Pressing tea into a brick form is a longstanding tradition in China. This was a clever solution for saving space during transportation, helping the tea survive even long caravan trips and reserving its flavour. By pressing the tea leaves into bricks, their valuable aromas were sealed inside and protected from environmental influences.

Even though we no longer have to transport our green teas with blossoms and petals by camel, we are still able to offer our mini-bricks so that you, too, can indulge in this traditional tea pleasure.

It’s best to pour about 400 ml of hot water (100C) over a tea brick and let it steep for 4 minutes.

This tea has the finely tart character for green tea and the cup is bright yellow with fine bits of blossom pressed into the brick.

We can offer you: Mini Tea Brick – Amy Gold
	Contents: Green Tea, Dwarf Lilies. A delightful pressed green tea with water lily blossom.
Visit: http://www.peacockteaandcoffee.co.za/china/amy-gold-mini-tea-bricks.html

In China you know you are an extremely esteemed guest when your host does you the honour of pouring hot water over one of these delicate constructs and “sacrificing” it to prepare tea. The most fascinating spectacle then takes place within the teapot. What you see is a small bundle of tea (gong yi cha) very skilfully crafted by hand into a shape of a small parcel or bouquet, a ball or a chrysanthemum bud, which then unfurls into an exotic flower while the water takes on its fine aroma. It’s as much a pleasure for the eyes as it is for the palate. Understandably, flowing teas are best enjoyed in glass teapots, so that observers can follow the entire process of “blossoming” without interruption.

We might point out that these culinary objects d’art also make the perfect gift idea for that special someone in you life. Besides, who said that flowers could only be given by the bouquet.