All About Floral Tea

The delicate taste of floral teas can make you feel like you're in a field of fresh flowers. With a flowery and aromatic scent, floral teas are not only delicious and fragrant, but many have unique healing properties. Read on to learn about what makes floral tea, the different types of floral tea and their benefits, and the best floral teas to sip on year-round.

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What is Floral Tea?

Simply put, floral tea is tisanes and infusions made from dried flowers steeped in hot water. Often these flower teas are blended with a base tea, like black tea, green tea, oolong, white tea, or an herbal blend. However, floral teas can also be enjoyed on their own for a more prominent floral cup. Many flowers used to make floral teas are rich in nutritional benefits, from stress relief to anti-inflammatory effects.

All floral teas are naturally caffeine-free, although can contain caffeine if mixed with a caffeinated true tea, like green or black tea. Every type of floral tea tastes different, depending on the type of flowers the tea is made from. While lots of people enjoy the taste of these dried flowers, adding honey or sweetener can allow the flavors of a floral tea to blossom, and undercut the sometimes too herbal or earthy taste.

Keep in mind that some of the best floral teas feature flowers as a complement to a base tea. For example, lavender mixes well with black tea leaves, and rose pairs well with white tea. On the other hand, other flower teas, like hibiscus, have a strong flavor that can easily become the star of your teacup. To try more floral teas, check out our Floral Tea Collection for a curated selection of our top-rated, flowery teas!

Want to brew your own blooms? Here are a few of our favorite floral teas:

Types of Floral Tea

Just as there are millions of varieties of flowers, there is an abundance of flower teas for you to explore. Some, like jasmine tea, hibiscus, lavender, and chamomile tea are very well-known, while others may be entirely new to you. While there are too many to name, here are some of the most popular floral teas:

• Hibiscus Tea: Fruity and tart, hibiscus tea is a bright red drink known for its refreshing, energizing taste. This bold and vibrant cup is sometimes complemented with other flavors, especially herbs like mint and ginger, or fruits, but is also enjoyed as a stand-alone hibiscus tea.

• Lavender Tea: With a light, herbal taste, lavender tea is a favorite among tea drinkers for its flavor and soothing properties. Lavender is a great choice for promoting relaxation and better sleep. Its floral undertones have made it a popular addition to black teas, especially in an Earl Grey blend.

• Rose Tea: The classic beauty of roses lends itself well to an equally delightful tea. Rose tea has a slightly soft, sweet flavor that's often blended with other stronger teas as an undertone. Pair dried rose petals with a background of white tea to make rose the star of your drink, or try a rich and creamy Rose Tea Latte. You can even use fresh rose petals as a garnish to elevate your cup of tea.

• Chamomile Tea: One of the most popular floral teas, chamomile has an earthy sweetness, with wellness benefits in every cup. Chamomile flowers are naturally soothing and can aid in reducing stress and anxiety. Chamomile is also effective at reducing inflammation and can help ease pain related to headaches, menstrual cramps, and more.

• Jasmine Flower Tea: Jasmine blossoms can enhance green tea with a nutty, floral taste. Most commonly, jasmine tea doesn't include the flowers themselves. Instead, dried green tea leaves are rolled up into balls and then scented with jasmine blossoms, to make what's referred to as "jasmine pearls". These scented tea balls have the health benefits of jasmine flowers, including its sedative effect and anti-aging properties, along with jasmine's sweet fragrance.

• Butterfly Pea Flower Tea: The characteristic vibrant blue of butterfly pea flowers come from its special antioxidants. Among its many functions, these antioxidants also reduce inflammation, promote hair growth, and hydrate your skin. Plus, as an added delight, the butterfly pea blossoms brew a blue cup that turns pink with just one drop of citrus!

• Chrysanthemum Tea: Chrysanthemum flower petals create this heart-healthy tea, which helps lower cholesterol and combat inflammation, while also acting as a source of vitamin C. This fragrant, blooming tea has a long history in herbal traditions and can be a simple solution to improving overall wellness.

• Calendula Tea: Also known as pot marigold, calendula tea petals are often added to herbal or floral blends for their health benefits. An Ayurvedic medicinal, this vibrant orange blossom contains antimicrobial and antiviral properties that may help reduce fevers, ease stomach pain, and treat skin ailments.

• Blue Cornflowers: With a very mild taste and vibrant color, blue cornflowers are often added to herbal tea blends for their bright blue hue and healing properties. Dried cornflower extract is a common medicinal supplement, used to treat everything from eye infections to fevers. It also may help regulate kidney function and support your immune system.

• Linden Flower Tea: Deeply rooted in European folk medicine, the linden plant is an herb that's been used to treat everything from heart conditions to indigestion. Today, linden tea often acts as a common cold remedy, as well as an antispasmodic.

• Elderflower Tea: Just like medicinal elderberry syrup, elderflower tea may boost your immune system, clear the sinuses, treat allergy symptoms, and even reduce fevers. Plus, the sweet herbal flavor of elderflowers makes a pleasant and refreshing cup.

Explore these floral teas and more!

Making Floral Teas

How to Steep Floral Tea

For flower-infused teas, steeping times vary depending on the base blend. As always, white and green tea steep for shorter lengths of time than black tea, while herbal teas steep the longest. Pure flower teas generally take 3-5 minutes to steep properly, at around 212°F. You can even switch up your brewing method by making floral sun tea. Many floral tea blends also taste delicious cold-brewed for a crisp, cool glass, or an aromatic iced tea.

Blooming Teas

Blooming tea (or “flowering tea”) is a fun and beautiful twist on the normal brewing experience. Crafted in China for hundreds of years, blooming teas are little bundles of dried tea leaves and flowers that unfurl or "bloom" in hot water. You can make them at home by sewing together moistened tea leaves and flower petals, and then letting them dry, sometimes wrapped in a cloth to hold the shape. These bundles typically have a very light flavor but can be customized with added herbs or sweet, food-safe flower petals. Then just place your blooming tea in your water, and watch the magic unfold right in your teacup!

Discover your favorite tea-making method with these floral teas:

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

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About Sips by: We’re a female-founded and led startup that makes discovering tea fun, personalized, and affordable. The Sips by Box is the only multi-brand, personalized tea subscription box. Each month, we match tea drinkers across the U.S. with delicious teas from over 150 global tea brands that we’re sure they’ll love. Based out of Austin, Texas, we are adept at savoring a hot mug even when it’s seasonally inappropriate.