FLAVORED TEA

Teas are often enhanced with the essential oils and aromas of citrus, berries, and floral combinations to stir the senses and stimulate the palate. In scented teas, flower blossoms such as jasmine or chrysanthemum, or citrus rinds — orange, grapefruit, lemon — are placed among the tea leaves for hours at a time to infuse them with their fragrance; the process repeated until the desired aroma and flavour is absorbed. Then the majority are removed, leaving only the smaller buds and rinds to add color and texture to the tea. Flavoured teas gain their aroma by misting the leaves with the desired essence — black currant, vanilla — and heating them to seal in the oils. Upon steeping, the leaves gently unfurl and release their enticing flavours in a wonderful breath and cup.