Floral Teas 101

Here's to embracing the essence of Spring!

Floral foods and drinks are nothing new, and in fact flowers have been a staple of pantries from grandma’s house to royal kitchens around the world for millennia.

All flowers have a flavor that we call floral, but every flower also has a unique flavor all its own. So, yes, flowers taste like flowers, but they all taste a little bit different. 

Here are some of our favorites:

• Chamomile (Europe and North Africa): Mild herbal and apple notes, often used for its soothing and calming flavor in teas and baked goods.
• Lavender (Mediterranean region): Lavender flowers are infused to make a fragrant tea with hints of mint and pine. Often turned into a simple syrup for cocktails, coffee and lemon desserts.
• Rose (Middle East and Asia): Rose petals are brewed into a delicate and aromatic tea with sweet undertones, frequently used to add a perfumed essence to desserts, beverages, and jams.
• Hibiscus (Africa, Caribbean, Asia and in Latin America): Brews a shockingly vibrant red tea with a tart and fruity flavor, often used as a natural food coloring and to infuse tangy notes in fruity desserts.
• Chrysanthemum (China and East Asia): Chrysanthemum flowers produce a light and grassy tea with a slightly sweet taste, often paired with citrus. 
• Elderflower (Europe): Delicate and aromatic honey and pear notes. The tea is commonly used in cocktails, syrups, and custards.