Brewing flowering tea is a sensory experience that combines beauty and flavour. These hand tied bulbs gently open in hot water to reveal elegant blossoms while releasing a smooth, naturally sweet green tea infusion. Made from premium Fujian green tea and delicate flowers, flowering teas bring a sense of theatre to your teaware and a moment of calm to your day.
Let The Tea Makers of London guide you through brewing the perfect flowering tea bulb.
What Equipment Do You Need?
To enjoy the full blooming effect, it is best equipment to use is a clear glass teapot or a large heatproof glass cup. You will also need fresh filtered water, a reliable kettle and a prewarmed cup for serving. A spoon or small set of tongs can be useful if you prefer to remove the bulb once it has fully opened.
How to Brew Flowering Tea Bulbs
1. Use fresh filtered water
Measure 400ml of freshly filtered water. Clean water allows the pale golden infusion to remain bright and clear and brings out the subtle floral notes.
2. Heat the water
Warm the water to 80°C. Since flowering teas are crafted from green tea leaves, cooler water protects their natural sweetness and ensures a smooth, gentle flavour.
3. Prewarm your teapot
Rinse your glass teapot with a little hot water to keep the temperature consistent. This helps the bulb open evenly and preserves the aroma.
4. Add your flowering tea bulb
Place a single tea bulb into the empty teapot. The bloom will be most beautiful when viewed through glass.
5. Pour and steep
Pour the 80°C water over the bulb and allow it to steep for 3 to 4 minutes. The bulb will slowly sink to the bottom, begin to expand and then unfurl into a flower. A shorter steep gives a lighter, sweeter cup while a longer infusion brings out deeper grassy and floral tones.
6. Serve and enjoy
Pour the tea into a prewarmed cup and enjoy the infusion pure for the best expression of its floral aroma. A small touch of honey can be added if you prefer a little sweetness.
7. Re steeping
Most high quality flowering tea bulbs can be resteeped two or three times. Simply refill the pot with 80°C water and steep again, extending the time slightly with each infusion.
A Moment of Calm as the Bloom Unfurls
Watching a flowering tea bulb gently open creates a natural pause that encourages slower, more mindful breathing. Research suggests that mindful breathing supports physical relaxation and improved wellbeing by activating the body’s relaxation response. Observing the leaves unfurl can help anchor your attention in the present moment. Studies on tea‑focused mindfulness note that paying attention to simple visual details, such as movement or colour changes, can enhance calm and ease mental tension. Slowing the breath and focusing on gentle sensory cues could reduce stress and bring a sense of calm concentration.
Even a brief pause to watch the bloom unfold can become a simple, restorative ritual before you take your first sip.
Did you know?
Flowering teas are crafted by artisans in Fujian, China. Each bulb is hand tied by wrapping green tea leaves around chrysanthemum, lily, jasmine, osmanthus, marigold or rose buds. This skilled process gives flowering tea its signature blooming effect and its delicate, aromatic flavour.
Other Flowering Teas You May Enjoy
If you enjoy the experience of watching your tea bloom, there are several varieties to explore. Jasmine Basket opens with gentle jasmine sweetness and bright green tea notes. Perfect Rose features a delicate rosebud at its centre for a romantic visual and flavour profile. Oriental Beauty offers vibrant colours and layered floral character. Lily Heart and Melody provide soft, graceful blossoms with a calming sweetness.
What Makes Our Flowering Tea Special
Our flowering tea bulbs are made in Fujian, a region celebrated for its mountainous landscapes, fertile soil and long tradition of handcrafted tea. The subtropical climate and high elevation gardens produce green tea that is naturally rich in antioxidants such as catechins and vitamin C. Each bulb is tied by hand to ensure it blooms beautifully while maintaining a smooth, sweet flavour. Alongside their stunning appearance, flowering teas offer the refreshing qualities of green tea and the gentle aromatics of natural flowers.
FAQ: Flowering Tea
What temperature should flowering tea be brewed at?
Flowering tea is best brewed at 80°C to preserve its delicate green tea leaves.
Can flowering tea be resteeped?
Yes. Most bulbs can be steeped two or three times without becoming bitter.
Is flowering tea caffeinated?
Yes. Flowering tea is made from green tea leaves, so it contains a moderate level of caffeine. Read the article What Teas Contain the Most Caffeine? To find out more about caffeine in different teas.
Should I use a glass teapot?
Yes. Flowering teas are traditionally brewed in glass so the unfolding bloom can be fully appreciated.
Can I add milk?
Flowering tea is enjoyed without milk to maintain its light, floral flavour and watch the leaves bloom.
