''Maehwa-cha'' () or plum blossom tea is a traditional
Korean tea made by infusing dried flowers of
Korean plum in hot water.
During the early spring, half-open buds of
plum blossoms
''Prunus mume'' is an East Asian and Southeast Asian tree species classified in the ''Armeniaca'' section of the genus ''Prunus'' subgenus ''Prunus''. Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The flower, lon ...
are picked, dried, and preserved in honey.
It is served, with ten flowers in a
teapot
A teapot is a vessel used for steeping tea leaves or a herbal mix in boiling or near-boiling water, and for serving the resulting infusion which is called tea. It is one of the core components of teaware. Dry tea is available either in tea ba ...
and by pouring of hot water.
The tea can be enjoyed after one to two minutes of steeping.
Gallery
Maehwa-cha and hwajeon.jpg, ''Maehwa-cha'' (plum blossom tea) enjoyed with ''hwajeon
''Hwajeon'' (), or flower cake is a small Korean pan-fried rice cake. It is made out of glutinous rice flour, honey and edible petals from seasonal flowers, such as rhododendron. It is eaten during the festivals of ''Samjinnal'' and Buddha's Birt ...
'' (flower pancakes)
See also
* ''
Maesil-cha
''Maesil-cha'' () or plum tea is a traditional Korean tea made from ''maesil'' (fresh plums), '' omae'' (smoked plums), or ''maesil-cheong'' (plum syrup).
Preparation
Most commonly, ''maesil-cha'' is made by mixing ''maesil-cheong'' (plum syru ...
'', Korean plum tea
* ''
Suānméitāng
Suanmeitang or sour prune drink is a traditional Chinese beverage made from smoked plums, rock sugar, and other ingredients such as sweet osmanthus. Due to the sour plums used in its production, ''suanmeitang'' is slightly salty in addition to bei ...
'', Chinese sour plum drink
References
Korean tea
Flower tea
{{Tea-stub