Display Teas: A Sight of Beauty, A Taste of Spring

I had never heard the term "display tea" until researching an article on dragon pearls for A Nice Cuppa a few months ago. Dragon Pearl tea is the most simple of the display teas, a hand-tied bundle of two of the earliest of the green teas picked specifically in the Fuji Chinese province, wrapped around a jasmine blossom.

As the pearls steep, they unfurl into leafy tendrils and form a pale, floral, uplifting tea, perfect for evenings to me.

I'd seen reference to other teas on the net, specifically those made by a company called Adagio but hadn't seen any face to face until my trip to Napa with Sher of What Did You Eat?  There, in Dean & DeLuca, I literally grabbed onto a can of blossoms that I will be reordering. Behold my stash in the long silver cylinder:

And this is what they look like when steeped full on. Again, beautiful to watch and just as gorgeous to drink.  All display teas of from the Fuji province, the youngest, best quality green tea leaves, with floral surprises tucked inside, and hand-tied or sewn.  this one has both a jasmine bud, hard to see, and a small chrysanthemum, which looks like a pink clover to me, actually.  They are reusable. I steeped this one twice for photos and then twice more for drinking before I gave up on it.

To purchase beautiful display teas as well as glass tea pots and mugs to prepare them in, see Teaposy at www.wholelottalove.com . There's also a really nice video showing several different display tea arrangements steeping and opening up.  Nice site and reasonably priced, not that I'm getting a kickback from them or anything, I swear. I'll just be ordering from them myself.

Comments

[sher]

Not only is it beautiful to look at, it the best green tea I've ever had! Obviously these teas would make fabulous presents for people who enjoy tea. And looking at the tea "flower" as it unfolds is very soothing. Beautiful pictures, Glenna.

[Jeff]

Fan-CY!!

[Glenna]

Sher--It really is beautiful and great tasting. I agree, great gift idea.

Jeff--LOL! I read that they're used a lot as non-alcoholic apperitifs. Makes sense, huh? I used a margarita glass because my red wine glasses weren't big enough but can't you see this in a really big bowled red wine glass? It would be beautiful after dinner.