Lotus tea facts for kids

Lotus tea is a special drink made from different parts of the lotus plant. You can use its leaves, flowers, roots, fruit, seeds, or even tiny parts called embryos to make this tea!

People in different countries have their own names for lotus tea. In China, it's called liánchá. In Korea, it's known as yeoncha. And in Vietnam, it's called trà sen.

Discovering Lotus Leaf Tea

Lotus leaf tea is a type of lotus tea made from the young leaves of the lotus plant. In Korea, it's known as yeonnip-cha.

To make this tea, the lotus leaves are often heated first. This can be done by steaming or roasting them. After heating, they are dried. Sometimes, people even use fresh lotus leaves to make the tea!

To prepare two or three cups of lotus leaf tea, you would gently simmer about 6 to 12 grams of dried leaves in 600 milliliters of water. If you're using fresh leaves, you'd use a bit more, around 15 to 20 grams.

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  Slicing lotus leaves

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  Roasting lotus leaves

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  Steamed lotus leaves

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  Drying steamed lotus leaves

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  Dried steamed lotus leaves

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  A tea bag of lotus leaf tea

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  Lotus leaf tea

Enjoying Lotus Flower Tea

Lotus flower tea is made from the beautiful lotus flower itself. In Korea, it's called yeonkkot-cha or yeonhwa-cha.

Often, a whole fresh lotus flower is used to make this tea. It's a very special way to enjoy the tea! In some places, like in Korean temple cuisine (food prepared in Buddhist temples), this tea has a deeper meaning. It represents the idea of Buddhist enlightenment, which is like a sudden understanding or awakening.

If you're using dried lotus petals, you can simmer about 4 to 8 grams of them in 600 milliliters of water. This will make two to three cups of lovely lotus flower tea.

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  Making lotus flower tea

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  Lotus flower opening

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  Lotus flower tea (fully opened)

Trying Lotus Fruit Tea

Lotus fruit tea is made by soaking dried lotus fruits in hot water. In Korea, this type of tea is known as yeonbang-cha.

Sipping Lotus Seed Tea

Lotus seed tea is a drink made from lotus seeds. These seeds are usually steamed and then dried before they are used for tea.

In Korea, this tea has a few different names, like yeonbap-cha, yeonssi-cha, or yeonja-cha. To make two to three cups of this tea, you would simmer about 5 to 10 grams of lotus seeds in 600 milliliters of water over low heat.

What is Lotus Embryo Tea?

Lotus embryo tea is a special drink made from the tiny embryos found inside lotus seeds. In Chinese, it's called liánxīn-chá or liánzixīn-chá. In Vietnamese, it's known as trà tim sen.

Preparing Lotus Root Tea

Lotus root tea is made from the rhizome (which is like an underground stem) of the lotus plant. It's called yeongeun-cha in Korea.

You can make this tea by soaking dried slices of lotus root in hot water. Another way is to mix lotus root powder into hot water. This powder can be made by drying lotus root juice or by grinding dried lotus root slices into a fine powder.

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  Dried lotus root slices

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  Infusing dried lotus root slices

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  Lotus root tea