Oriental beauty - a unique green tea

A magical garden in a glass

It starts as little bigger than a two-pence piece and is ever so tightly wrapped. But by placing in a heat resistant glass it transforms.

I prepared a thick stemmed wine glass by placing it under hot water and inserting a metal spoon inside, before pouring on the just boiled water.

The green leaved bundle floats to the top of the glass but then sinks to the base where it slowly unravels.

At the centre of the bundle is a golden-glowing calendula (marigold) wrapped around a twisting and twirling stem of jasmine which floats to the top of the glass.

This spectacle takes around 5 minutes and it is worth sitting back and enjoying.

The taste doesn't disappoint. The delicate green tea flavour is complemented by the jasmine and the saffron like taste of the calendula.

This is one of a range of teas available from Flora Teas - they have to be seen to be believed.