Tea Blossoms: Taming the Human Heart of Every Aussies

In an eternal pursuit of his feminine side, STEWART DAWES has taken up the most tenderly elegant pastime possible drinking tea blossoms. This is his delicately-worded report …

Everyone, in every village, should have a friend known as The Tea Lady. Even if your village is surrounded by skyscrapers on every side, you’d pop into her little shop and pick up some soothing loose leaves to brew in an old teapot and take some time out from the smog, the hustle, the grind.

Tea Blossoms Lady

So it is that in 2009 I happened upon my very own Tea Lady, Kerrie McMahon the owner of the boutique tea company WorldParTea, which she ran in the Blue Mountains before deciding that one doesn’t need days on end of icy cold in order to drink tea – relocating her business and family to the balmy climes of Port Macquarie.

At the time that I met her, Kerrie was just starting out on the game of having a website so that people from around Australia, and indeed even overseas, can enjoy her tea. As a florist previously, the online realm held great trepidation for her and so I was able to old her hand through the early stages of creating an “online tea shop” while she nudged me towards the idea of substituting a small percentage of my hardline coffee addiction into a discovery of the subtle qualities of tea in all its vastly exotic forms.

Now the final chapter of my education is coming to an end – wth a focus at last on the elegant classical beauty of tea blossoms. Kerrie sent me the half-dozen in her range to sample and explore from a literary sense, and on the threshold of that journey I felt all author-like, as though about to embark on writing the tea blossom version of Patrick Süsskind’s Perfume.

Fit for a Princess

First to try is the Princess Malia tea blossom – visually stunning, tied to resemble a tiara, this white tea blossom is surrounded with tiny jasmine flowers and topped with a Chinese globe amaranth flower, which imparts a pink tinge to the infusion. Simply place the blossom into a filled glass teapot and watch as it unfurls. Each blossom will make 2 litres of tea and can be infused a number of times My 5-year-old son is becoming fascinated by tea blossoms and the pink top really drew his interest – he manged to drink 2/3rds of a small Japanese-style teacup anyway. I like the pink tinge which is very subtle but definitely there – adding a touch of dragon energy to the effect. Now I’m getting all metaphysical on you.

For Nymphomaniacs

Next is the Water Nymph (after 4 trips to the bathroom) which contains an entire orange lily flower, surrounded by tiny osmanthus petals which float effortlessly in the tea, creating a beautiful,dancing effect. Place in a glass teapot and enjoy what the Chinese refer to as “the best dressed tea”. Interestingly, this smells like tobacco, and in fact, tastes a bit the same – definitely a drink for rugged blokes – reminds me of the Russian Caravan teas I’ve tried in the past – very smoky flavour. Also I can feel the caffeine in this very robust tea instantly affect the verves in my forearms – yeah baby, I’m ready to stop a train with my bare hands! I like a tough cup of tea so don’t mind this brew at all though I think most people will find it challenging! Bring on second cuppa and watch me fly!!

I Still Love You Granny!

Now it’s time to channel my grandmother because I’m taste-testing Chloe’s Pink Carnation – a hand tied white tea ball, with a charming pink carnation at its heart, which is revealed upon infusion. Some of the pink hue from the carnation is imparted into the water giving it a tantalising blush and a sweet floral aroma.

A Stunning Snow Globe

The next one reminds me of an Englishman’s slang word for his penis – it’s called the Little Prince Harvey. A beautiful new tea blossom to celebrate the arrival of their smallest and youngest tea merchant, Harvey. This is a sublime white tea with a golden marigold flower at its heart. There are also a number of small petals hidden inside that are released when the blossom opens for a stunning ‘snow globe’ effect. The taste is gentle, refreshing and delicately floral.This promises to be a heady and sensual affair, and delivers with difference, just like an Englishman’s er … Little Prince Harvey.

At this point I had to quit for the first day as my urine had turned clear – wow detoxing extraordinaire. Just two to go!

Wake Up the Dead

Started the next day with the sombre sounding Hannah’s Jasmine Wreath – great to drink at a wake for any chick called Hannah, rather than when you wake up. On the contrary it’s Worldpartea’s most popular tea blossom – contains jasmine flowers tied daisy-chain style, which unfurl and rise when infused. The taste is sweet and aromatic and appeals to lovers of jasmine scented teas. Delightfully refreshing and a pick me up whether at brunch time or when the eyelids droop in late afternoon.

Going Nuts for Tea

Last but by no means least is the innocuous-sounding Camellia’s Tea Blossom – for tea purists. All tea whether black, oolong, green or white comes from the same plant – camellia sinensis. The camellia flower in this blossom is the flower of the camellia sinensis itself, which lends a wholesome roundness to the flavour of the leaves, the tiny traces of pollen giving a hint of “nuttiness”. I’m starting to sound like a pompous wine reviewer, but maybe there is a career for me yet as a tea taster?

It’s been a pleasure to have sampled all these teas and for the next 12 months every family member or friend is getting tea blossoms for birthdays or Christmas. After all, they are a little bit expensive. But not enough to break the bank, or to give something which is so stylish, unique and memorable. I asked a few people whether they’d like to receive tea blossoms as a gift and the answers were unanimously yes. Feel like I’m on the crest of a relatively undiscovered foodie wave. Charming place to be, now excuse me while I visit the bathroom one more time.

For the complete WorldParTea range click on their website and enjoy: www.worldpartea.com