Ok, this is my new tea "thing." Called art or display teas, these are tea leaves that are tied into little balls and then they unfold to resemble flowers or sea anemones when brewed.

Anyone else into these lovely teas? I'm trying a variety presently and wanted to see if anyone had any favorites.....

Hey Rae <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I've never heard of these before. They sound really neat. Where do you get these? Do they come in flavors? What can you tell us? <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I was introduced to these teas by some friends who run a tea business and had a booth at one of my recent pagan gatherings. I've found them at my local food co-op, at a specialty tea shop in SF, and on various tea sites on the Internet.

As I said, they are bunches of tea leaves tied so that as they brew in a glass pot or carafe, they appear to be unfolding flowers. I have one that I brew in a glass pitcher, it's called Jasmine Fairy Maidens. The green leaves unfold, orange blossom leaves expand and three white blossoms float upwards on a tiny string. All from a bunch of tea leaves tied to about the size of those jumbo gumballs.

I prefer green tea to black, so I've only tried green ones, but I understand they come in many varieties.

Wow! Those sound SO cool! What an awesome gift too! I will definitely have to look for those. The brewing process alone sounds relaxing.

Wow sounds cool. Thanks for the info. I might get one for myself. Now that you mentioned about tea, let me share a cool 'Tea 4 Link' campaign I heard from my blogger buddies. A gourmet tea company is supposedly giving out a complimentary package of Japanese tea if you link to them from your site. Many of my friends have already linked them and they said they received the tea package in about a week. For more info:

http://www.teanobi.com/link4tea.html

Free = Sweet

I recieved a couple of these for last Yuletide.....one was a "chrysanthemum" style that unfurls when you pour the water over it...I was so jazzed about the flower blooming in my cup, I honestly sort of missed the usual 'tea experience"...(giggle)
<img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />
Another one was simply a very pretty floral form....I think it was jasmine scented...both were delicious and added to the experience.

Anyone know about the history of this tea artform?