''Maehwa-cha'' () or plum blossom tea is a traditional
Korean tea
Korean tea is a beverage consisting of boiled water infused with leaf, leaves (such as the tea plant ''Camellia sinensis''), roots, flowers, fruits, grains, edible mushrooms, or edible seaweed, seaweed. It may or may not contain tea leaves.
Hi ...
made by infusing dried flowers of
Korean plum in hot water.
During the early spring, half-open buds of
plum blossoms
''Prunus mume'', the Chinese plum or Japanese apricot, is a tree species in the family Rosaceae. Along with bamboo, the plant is intimately associated with art, literature, and everyday life in China, from where it was then introduced to Kor ...
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 serving the resulting infusion called tea; usually put in a teacup. It is one of the core components of teaware.
Teapots usually have an ...
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'', kkotbukkumi, kkotjijimi, () 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 S ...
'' (flower pancakes)
See also
* ''
Maesil-cha'', 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 ...
'', Chinese sour plum drink
References
Korean tea
Flower teas
{{Tea-stub