I wanted to make Thanksgiving tea party extra special! I knew our guest had never heard of flowering tea. I have never made it for tea party before because I had never tried one that was worth serving to guests. This one is so good, though, that I wanted to give it a test run at tea party, though I have already had it once.
My guest….LOVED it! We went five steeps. The final one was weak but the back end of the swallow still had the essence of the first steep.
The first impression was buttery buttery vegetables…squash, perhaps. Mild, smooth, and creamy. The second steep sat for a while as we drank our first teas, but when we got to it, it was still wonderful; no bitterness crept out at all no matter how long we left it. The second steep was a little more flavorful than the first, perhaps because the leaves were now well hydrated and opening up more fully.
The leaves and blossoms stayed beautiful to look at as well. The one I had purchased years ago turned ugly quite quickly! It looked like a glass pitcher of ditch water! Not this one! Even now, hours later, it looks pretty in the pot.
My guest enjoyed it so much that I told her we will begin having oolongs, greens, and white teas in future! And I have promised True Love Flowering tea will be on the menu at tea party next week. Beautiful and delicious!
