The popularity of the consumption of tea as a beverage started way back in the 16th century. However, its exact origin is still up for debate. But the most popular theory at the moment is that it was accidentally discovered by an emperor named Shen Nong on 2737 B.C.E when a leaf accidentally landed inside his pot where he was boiling water. Now, statistics show that tea is now only second to packaged water as the most consumed beverage in the world.
The world’s fondness with tea gave birth to many different types and variations that are still being experimented and innovated as we speak. One of these innovations is the blooming tea, also known as the flowering tea which originated in China. This type of tea is actually a combination of tea leaves, typically green or black tea leaves, as well as aromatic flowers such as lily, lavender, jasmine, and chrysanthemum, among others.
How blooming tea is made
To make it, the flower petals are neatly arranged and wrapped with the tea leaves in such a way that it will be shaped like a bulb or a ball. The blooming tea bulb will then be dried and then sealed to maintain its optimal condition. To serve it, you simply have to put the bulb in boiling water and after a few moments, the tea leaves will slowly unfurl themselves revealing the flower petals inside, creating an illusion of a blooming flower, which is the reason why its called blooming tea.
However, blooming tea is not only aesthetically beautiful to look at, but it is also full of health benefits according to the many tea enthusiasts out there which were probably the reason for its surge of popularity recently. Just for the record though, many of these claims are not backed by actual studies and therefore should only be taken with a grain of salt. With that being said, the following are some of the reported health benefits of the consumption of blooming teas.
Blooming tea health benefits
Green tea leaves had already been scientifically proven to be packed with antioxidants. On a deeper level, green tea leaves contain catechins and flavonoids which are substances that are known to have cleansing effects that rids our body of free radicals. By simply having green tea regularly, you are lowering your risk of developing degenerative diseases such as diabetes, senile dementia, atherosclerosis, or even cancer.
By pairing green tea leaves with Chrysanthemum petals, you’re enhancing the cleansing effect of the green tea leaves to another level. Chrysanthemum, reportedly, also can regulate blood pressure to prevent hypertension as well as anti-inflammatory effects to help alleviate body pains and aches.
Blooming teas can also help in reducing stress levels. Jasmine, for example, is said to have calming effects that can lighten up your mood as well as dial down your food cravings, which could be a potential tool to help you lost weight. Green tea, as well, has been proven to have stress-reducing properties that can have relaxing effect on your brain.