Sweet Osmanthus Oolong Tea

When my grandmother used to visit from southern China, she would bring osmanthus rice cakes and osmanthus tea with her as a little treat. Unfortunately over time she couldn’t visit anymore, but having mini tea times with her as a child is a cherished memory. I’ve tried to find osmanthus tea on my own afterward since I still really enjoy the light floral– almost honeyed –touch the osmanthus adds to green tea, but I hadn’t found one that tasted similar to my grandmother’s tea after scouring tea shops and the internet for the past 20 years until a friend from my local farmers’ market recommended trying Zaica’s teas one day. The subtle floral hints smoothly complement the green tea without distracting from it and it reminds me of a warm autumn sun with a gentle breeze. Add a few slices of fresh lemon to your teapot if you want a little extra bit of sunshine–that’s how I like to prepare the tea in the morning!

Thank you again to Zaica for helping me reconnect to this delight and a little piece of my childhood. <3