The importance of floral elements in Chinese traditions goes back to the earliest origins of their culture. The gods, dragons, and other mythological entities of ancient Chinese folklore were personified in the many flowering plants and vines that are native to the Asian continent. The practice of preparing tea from these symbolic representations of the powers of nature has always been a form of ritual tribute, as well as a dietary function.
The Chinese flower tea tradition has come to include the practice of combining different flowers in such a way that the act of preparing the tea becomes a form of visual entertainment that also provides a spiritual or religious ceremony. The personification of various dragons from Chinese mythology is seen in the visual display created by preparing amaranths, sunflowers, marigolds, and jasmine.
Jasmine tea in particular is a popular favorite among Chinese flower tea makers. This is partly due to the highly aromatic qualities of this tiny flower in its many species. The jasmine fragrance is preserved even after the drying processes and combination with other botanicals in the tea making process itself. However, the symbolic meaning of jasmine is an equally important reason why this flower is used so often in Chinese flower tea.
Jasmine tea has been brewed for hundreds of centuries throughout Asia for its known ability to calm the nerves and other bodily functions. Jasmine is used as a sedative agent not only in tea but also in the practice of aromatherapy which, while a relatively new phenomenon in Western culture, has been a part of Chinese daily healing since the beginning of their culture. Jasmine tea is brewed to soothe disorders of the digestive system, reduce inflammation in wounds, and ease sleep in children and adults alike.
This is the reason why the jasmine flower is so often used in combination with other flower buds in Chinese flower tea. Its medicinal application, along with the aesthetic value of its fragrance, adds significantly to any choice of flowering plant used in tea preparation. The many color varieties that jasmine flowers come in are another reason for their wide use in Chinese flower tea. White jasmine combined with a pink rose becomes a crown of passion when brewed as the petals of these flowers open. A dried bunch of blossoms of yellow jasmine, marigold and amaranth, artfully intertwined, miraculously unfold into a colorful bouquet reminiscent of wildflowers in a meadow in spring.
The tradition of skillfully intertwining flower buds to create a display of color and fragrance in a teapot is one of the remnants of the days of ancient Chinese dynasties, when dragon spirits and the forces of nature were a very real part. of life and ideology. of the Chinese people. Today’s Western culture has inherited this tradition in the practice of making Chinese flower tea, not only for its homeopathic healing qualities but also for its ability to enlighten the spirit.
