Flowering tea is a tea which is packaged in a tightly furled ball which uncurls when the tea is placed in hot water, revealing a flower or fanciful scene created by the artfully arranged tea leaves. Most flowering teas are made with black, green, or oolong tea, and many of them include dried flowers to add color to the floral arrangement when it “blooms” in the teapot. Specialty tea companies carry flowering tea, often in samplers which include a mixture of flavors and arrangements.

Although you might think it was an ancient tradition, given the Asian love for both tea and flowers, flowering tea appears to be a development of the 1980s. It seems to have originated in China, and it became very popular in the West in the early 2000s, around the same time that Asian-style foods and décor also started to become very trendy. Chinese tea companies produce a range of flowering teas, including flowers which are assembled and sewn by hand by artisans.

You may hear flowering tea referred to as performance tea, blooming tea, or decorative tea, referencing the beauty of the flower as it unfurls. Most people prefer to brew flowering tea in glass teapots or teapots made from other clear materials so that they can see the flower clearly. It can also be brewed in large clear or white cups, although most flowering teas are designed to provide multiple servings, so a single cup could end up being too strong.

Most flowering teas develop into fanciful flower shapes when they are brewed, with the tea forming the “leaves,” and dried flowers unfurling inside. It is also possible to create delicate little scenes with tea, when the tea is handled by someone who is skilled with flowering teas, so the tea might unfurl to reveal a sailing ship or another decorative object. Seeing what's inside is often part of the excitement and surprise; many manufacturers leave their flowering tea unlabeled so that people will not know what to expect.

Flowering tea is usually individually packaged, ensuring that the balls of tea are not jostled during transport and storage. This tea should be stored in a cool, dry place for the best shelf life. After flowering tea has been brewed, it can usually withstand two to three additional brewings, although the flavor may weaken. Some flowering teas also become bitter when they are steeped repeatedly.