Tea & Coffee
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Bound tea is a "bud" of green tea leaves, inside of which are fragrant flowers. It is also called blooming tea. Among Chinese teas, it is considered the most unusual. And the point is not only in its special taste and intoxicating aroma, but also in the bewitching spectacle of a flower blooming while brewing tea.
This is an elite tea and it is not cheap. This is a real work of art. Traditionally bound tea looks like a ball or briquette. Although you can find compositions of a more bizarre form. They can be made in the form of a mushroom, heart, star or dragon.
China - the birthplace of bound tea - is full of secrets and mysteries. Here, each tea has its own legend. This trend has not bypassed the tea flower.
Of course, the exact date of the appearance of the associated tea is not known. However, historians state the fact that this type of tea has been known in China for a thousand years. It is described in Chinese chronicles as "demonstrative tea".
An ancient legend is associated with the tea flower. According to her, the emperor of the Song Dynasty loved his wife very much. When she gave him the long-awaited heir, his happiness knew no bounds. To celebrate, he ordered his subjects to create tea with a unique taste and magical aroma. Craftsmen tied tea leaves with flower buds, gave them the shape of a ball and presented them to the emperor's wife. And so the bound tea was born.
I received this tea as a gift. It is very interesting to watch the process of turning a small ball into a flower. This is magic!
I will not say anything about the taste, since I am not a fan of green tea or tea in general. I drink black tea with bergamot, and any other one seems not tasty to me ...
On the way we passed a hotel, Kamikochi Myojinkan, where we had a cup of green tea. It is not my best photo, but it gives a nice impression of the kitchen/shop where the tea was made. ;-)
Kamikochi (上高地, Kamikōchi) is a popular resort in the Northern Japan Alps of Nagano Prefecture.
Looking Close ... on Friday theme: tea
Thanks to everyone that visits and leaves comments and favs. All are greatly appreciated.
If you are cold, tea will warm you; if you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.
William E. Gladstone
Tea is balm for the soul, don't you agree?
P. L. Travers
For Smile on Saturday - tea-rific
Lynn's usual, mid-afternoon break from tending her gardens, feeding the birds and chickens and soaking in the spring sunshine. . . a great weekend to everyone! M
Cameron Bharat Tea Estate near Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, Malaysia.
Copyright © Piotr Gaborek. All rights reserved!! Please do not use this image on websites, blogs or any other media without my explicit written permission.