The Exotic Teapot

In the spring, the first step is to pick the silver needle green tea (a core and 3 leaves).

After picking, the fresh leaves are spread out on bamboo trays and exposed to sunlight or warm air for one to two hours. Then the leaves are gently heated to prevent oxidation and preserve freshness.

The green tea is then hand selected by the teamaster who will ultimately create the flowering tea. He or she will then take several cotton like threads and entwine one or several flowers around the green tea core.

This is done in such a way so the flowers will slowly bloom once steeped in hot water. The sculpted tea is then encased inside a cotton yarn and fired twice to ensure sterilization.

The flowering teas are then hand scented several times with jasmine or other flavours (e.g., peach) and pan fired or baked a further 5 times.

The finished tea blossom is then released from the cotton yarn and individually sealed and packaged.