Plum blossom tea facts for kids
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| Type | Tea |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | Korea |
| Ingredients | Plum flowers |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul |
매화차
|
|---|---|
| Hanja |
梅花茶
|
| Revised Romanization | maehwa-cha |
| McCune–Reischauer | maehwa-ch'a |
| IPA | [mɛ.ɦwa.tɕʰa] |
Maehwa-cha (Hangul: 매화차; Hanja: 梅花茶), also known as plum blossom tea, is a special traditional tea from Korea. It is made by soaking dried flowers from the Korean plum tree in hot water. This tea is loved for its delicate taste and beautiful look.
What is Maehwa-cha?
Maehwa-cha is a type of flower tea. It uses the pretty blossoms of the Korean plum tree. These trees are famous for blooming early in spring. The tea captures the fresh scent and gentle flavor of these early spring flowers. It's a popular drink in Korea, especially during the spring season.
How is it Made?
Making Maehwa-cha is a careful process. In early spring, when the plum blossoms are just starting to open, they are picked by hand. It's important to pick them when they are still half-closed buds. This helps to keep their fresh scent and flavor.
After picking, the plum blossom buds are dried. Once dried, they are often preserved in honey. This helps to keep the flowers fresh for a long time. It also adds a touch of sweetness to the tea.
How to Enjoy Maehwa-cha
To make a cup of Maehwa-cha, you usually place about ten of the dried, honey-preserved flowers into a teapot. Then, you pour about 50 milliliters (which is about 1.7 fluid ounces) of hot water over them.
You let the tea steep, or soak, for one to two minutes. This allows the flavors and scents from the plum blossoms to mix with the hot water. After steeping, the tea is ready to be enjoyed. It's a calming and flavorful drink.
Images for kids
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Maehwa-cha (plum blossom tea) enjoyed with hwajeon (flower pancakes)
