Vietnamese lotus tea (Vietnamese: trà sen, chè sen, or chè ướp sen) is a type of green tea produced in Vietnam that has been flavored with the scent of Nelumbo nucifera. It is a specialty product of the Vietnamese tea industry and is consumed as part of celebratory events or festivals.
Vietnamese lotus tea | |
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Type | Green |
Other names | NA |
Origin | Vietnam |
Quick description | Similar to Yunnan green but scented |
The tea is made by allowing the green tea to absorb the flower's natural scent. This is done through several methods, either by:
These steps can be repeated multiple times to increase the floral scent in the tea leaves.[1] In the case of higher quality teas, one thousand lotus flowers per kilogram of tea are needed to complete this ancient process.[2] Many modern production tend towards flavoring or perfumes to scent the tea.
Lotus teas are typically very potent and are best brewed for under 2 minutes using cooler brewing temperatures (160 °F/70 °C). Some fancier ones will brew 3-4 times from one set of leaves.