Last Updated on May 23, 2017 by Marc Seward
What is Blooming Tea?
For any of you tea enthusiasts out there, this article might be of some interest to you. As a tea fanatic myself, I am always on the look out for a new, healthy brew and recently tried blooming tea for the first time.
Blooming tea which is also commonly called flowering tea is a wonderful combination of certain healthy flowers and nutritious green tea leaves. To make the tea, you wrap one or several dried flowers into bundles of green or black tea leaves in the shape of a bulb before it is set and dried.
Apart from its wonderful, refreshing flavor and its incredible health benefits, it has an impressive aesthetic. Once the bulb of flowers and leaves is placed in your boiling water, it expands then unfurls into a shape resembling a flower in bloom.
The tea which originated in the Yunnan province of China has now made its way around the world. It is becoming increasingly popular in the west for its unique appearance, flavor and many health benefits.
Why is Blooming Tea so Good for You?
By now, we are all familiar with the incredible health benefits of certain teas. Green tea in particular is renowned for its powerful antioxidant content. While black tea does not have quite the same therapeutic value, it is nonetheless a healthy choice. By making a cup of blooming tea, you will be getting all of the same health benefits that you receive from your green or black tea.
Green tea is a very rich source of various antioxidants including catechins and flavonoids. These antioxidants play a vital role on the body, protecting against the oxidative stress that is the root of many diseases while they can also slow down the inevitable aging process improve your appearance. The catechins found in green tea also have antibacterial properties and may help boost the metabolism and aid weight loss.
Both green tea and ordinary black tea also contain a compound called theanine which may help improve mood and alleviate stress and anxiety. Theanines are also known for improving heart health by reducing triglyceride and cholesterol levels in the body.
As well as the dried tea leaves, blooming tea also contains healthy, aromatic flowers such as jasmine, marigold, lily, chrysanthemum, rose and osmanthus. These flowers all have health benefits of their own which combined with the tea leaves can have a wonderful effect.
Jasmine for example is known to help reduce blood pressure while it also contains antibacterial properties which can help overcome bad breath. Osmanthus helps to alleviate pain and warm the stomach and the lungs. Marigold is great for the digestive system and helps to nourish your liver. Lily is an excellent natural remedy for relaxation and sleeping disorders like insomnia. Rose is a great tonic for the skin and can improve blood circulation.
The Health Benefits of Blooming Tea
1) Antioxidant Value
Teas like green tea have been well researched over recent years and we now know they are home to numerous powerful antioxidants. Because we are constantly bombarded with damaging free radicals, it is essential that we neutralize their effects by getting as many antioxidants into our diets as possible.
Antioxidants like the catechins and flavonoids found in tea leaves help protect the body from oxidative damage and may even reverse damage that has already been done. They can help you internally and also reduce many of the external signs of aging like wrinkles and age spots.
Blooming tea made with dried tea leaves and flowers provides you with a unique combination of powerful antioxidants that can go a long way to ensuring your health. Combining green tea with other types of tea as they do in China can give you a unique combination of antioxidants that can cover a range of bodily ills.
2) Skin Health
The antioxidant polyphenols found in blooming tea are a wonderful tonic to nourish and strengthen the skin. Drinking flowering tea nourishes from the inside and helps take care of the external skin too. It can help stimulate the rejuvenation of skin cells and protect from free radical damage. Consuming blooming tea may also help boost your skin’s production of collagen which is vital to maintaining fresh and healthy skin.
Getting as many antioxidants into your system as possible can have a dramatic effect on your appearance and in the long run help diminish many of the signs of aging like wrinkles.
3) Metabolism and Weight Loss
Drinking blooming tea on a regular basis can also help boost your metabolism. Its rich array of antioxidants may help your body burn fats more effectively. This can help ensure that fat is used for energy and is not stored to excess by the body resulting in weight gain and obesity.
4) For Stress and Anxiety
Like so many herbal teas, blooming tea is a great way to help your mind wind down from the stresses of life. The compounds found in blooming tea may help calm the mind and relieve feelings of anxiety, stress and mild depression.
If you feel that your life is affecting your stress levels, it is well worth drinking blooming tea throughout the day to help get your emotions back on track.
5) Cancer Prevention
The powerful antioxidants found in the wonderful tea may help reduce the risks of developing cancer and other serious disease. While there is no research regarding the anti-cancer effects of blooming tea in particular, the antioxidants found in the tea are known to effectively protect cells from damage that may cause cancer.
6) Heart Health
Blooming tea may help promote the health of your heart in several ways. It can help reduce LDL and overall cholesterol levels. High cholesterol is linked to an increased risk of heart disease like atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke. It can also help improve the circulation of blood and reduce the risks of blood clots.
7) Oral Health
Blooming tea has anti-bacterial compounds and anti-viral properties that can help cleanse the mouth. Not only will it help improve your breath but it is effective against the type of oral bacteria that leads to tooth decay and gum disease.
8) Brain Health
The antioxidants found in blooming tea can help boost the health of your brain and improve many cognitive abilities. The catechins found in green tea leaves are proven to protect the functioning of neurons which can help you focus and stay alert.
When drunk consistently over a long period of time, the tea may also help reduce the risk of certain degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
9) Inflammation
The antioxidants and other compounds found in blooming tea also act as natural anti-inflammatories which help relieve internal inflammation and also external swelling in conditions like rheumatism. Studies have demonstrated that consuming foods or beverages rich in polyphenols can significantly improve the symptoms of arthritis. Drinking plenty of blooming tea will give you a big boost of polyphenols to reduce swelling and alleviate the associated pain.
How To Make Blooming Tea
You can buy ready made blooming tea but if you are more adventurous and want a nice gift for your friends, why not try making your own. It takes a little patience but once you have made your blooming tea balls, they will keep for up to three years.
- Gather up some edible flowers such as rose, jasmine or lily from the garden or purchase them from a shop.
- Wash them out with water and a little salt to destroy any pests.
- Sew your flowers into a ball shape with a cotton thread.
- Gather your fresh tea leaves and place them between two waxed paper sheets. Flatten them with some heavy books for an hour but no longer or the leaves may wilt and then die.
- Cut your leaves with a knife in quarter inch strips up to the stem but not beyond.
- Place on a table in the shape of a wheel and put your flowers into the center.
- Gather up your leaves and your flowers holding the stems tightly together. Sew the stems making sure they are all together.
- Roll up your bundle in a ball by squeezing everything.
- Put your oven on its lowest possible heat and put your finished tea balls in for 30 minutes at most.
How to Brew
- Now that your tea balls are ready, simply put one into a clear pot and add boiling water.
- As the leaves soften, the flower will unfurl beautifully making for a very impressive sight.
- Steep for at least five minutes then serve in a cup or glass.
We think you will be drinking this tea up quickly enough but it is good to know that you can store them for up to three years so long as they are in a sealed container and kept cool and dry.
They make for a wonderful and unique home made gift that can really impress your friends or loved ones.
Have you ever made your own blooming tea at home? Let us know if you have a favorite recipe, we would love to hear from you.
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