Vietnamese Lotus Tea
By: Anonymous

About

Lotus tea is a rarity in the United States, yet highly valued in Vietnam. This whole leaf tea is scented with the beautiful petals of the lotus flower.

Information
Other names: Vietnamese Tea
Translations: Vjetnamiešu Lotus Tēja, Vietnamo Lotus Arbata, Ceai vietnamez Lotus, Vijetnamski Lotus čaj, Việt Lotus Tea, Wietnamski Lotus urządzenia, Vietnamese Lotus Thee, लोटस वियतनामी चाय, Chá Lotus Vietnamita, Вьетнамский чай Lotus, Βιετναμέζικα Lotus Τσάι, لوتس الشاي الفيتنامية, 베트남어 로터스 차, Vietnamci Lotus Čaj, Vietnam Lotus Teh, 越南莲花茶, Te vietnamita Lotus, Vietnamščina Lotus Tea, Vietnamci Lotus Čaj, Vietnamita Tea Lotus, תה לוטוס וייטנאמית, Vietnamesiska Lotus Tea, Вијетнамски Лотус чај, ベトナムロータスティー, Vietnamiens thé au lotus, Vietnamesische Lotus Tea, Vietnamesiske Lotus Te, Vietnamesisk Lotus Tea, Té vietnamita Lotus, Вєтнамська чай Lotus, Vietnam Lotus Tea, Виетнамски Lotus чай


Physical Description
Longitudinally curled green leaf with a slightly sharp flavor
Colors: Light golden-brown


Tasting Notes
Flavors: Earthen, Natural
Mouthfeel: Hot and silky
Food complements: Lemon
Substitutes: Green tea, Oolong tea


Selecting and Buying
Seasonality: january, february, march, april, may, june, july, august, september, opctober, november, december
Choosing: Loose leaves that have a fragrant scent.
Buying: Available in a few grocery stores along with other teas, but best bought in Asian or Vietnamese food markets.
Procuring: Made from tea leaves grow in Vietnam.  Lotus tea is a very unique tea that is made in an old traditional way. To have the finest lotus tea, lotus flowers must be picked when they have just bloomed and keep fresh. They take a Lotus flower bud and, very, very carefully peel back the petals without a single rip or tear until they would put about 2 grams of the fresh green tea inside, then carefully take back up the petals until the bud is as it was before filling it with tea. After all the buds are full and rewoven they put them aside overnight and the next evening reverse the process and extract the wonderful smelling Lotus tea. To have one kilogram of lotus tea nearly one thousand lotus flowers are needed.


Preparation and Use
Use a tea pot.  Heat almost to boiling, then pour over the leaves.  Steep for a few minutes, then sip.


Conserving and Storing
Store in a glass container in a cool, dark cabinet or pantry away from a heat source.


Social/Political
From Vietnam.
History: Each spring, traditional artisans from the Thai Nguyen province in Vietnam hand harvest fresh lotus blossoms which are blended with green tea leaves in an ancient scenting method to create Lotus tea.