Silk Chrysanthemum Cake

有机蚕丝杭白菊

Harvest
November 2023

Origin
Tongxiang, Zhejiang

Behold, the most incredible format we have ever received chrysanthemum tea in! These silk chrysanthemum flowers have been carefully pressed into a perfectly round tea cake, which looks like the prettiest pizza you have ever seen.

To make this masterpiece, each chrysanthemum flower is harvested carefully by hand in the morning. At night, they are processed using a centuries-old traditional steaming method. Wood from local camphor trees is used to start a fire. Small batches of 100 grams of fresh flowers are placed inside hand woven bamboo baskets, then steamed for 4 to 5 minutes over the fire. The chrysanthemums naturally form into a “cake” after steaming. The pressed flowers remain vibrant yellow, like rays of the sun. To finish, the tea cakes are baked for 4 to 6 hours to remove any remaining moisture.

To brew this tea you will break some pieces of the flower cake off before putting them in a glass pitcher to add water. As soon as hot water hits them they tint the liquor a soft yellow. Then the flowers expand, and expand, opening to reveal their plush petals and golden pistils. The flowers fill the glass pitcher with a beautiful mess, like a drowned bouquet.

The tea has the sweetest aroma, and its flowery citrus notes captivate us the way yuzu, valencia orange, or bergamot does. The powerful medicinal qualities of this tea are noticeable when drinking it. It has a clearing effect that we feel draining heat and stagnation from the body. It is so delicious, you will smile while it works its magic on you.

Silk Chrysanthemum is a product born out of love and respect for traditions, heritage, and nature. It is an embodiment of everything that Cultivate stands for: passionate artisans, heirloom varietals with history, biodynamic and natural farming methods, and craftsmanship adhering to traditions and cultures that have been passed down for generations. 

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Brewing guide