Plump, silvery green jasmine tea leaves mixed with dried jasmine petals displayed on a traditional bamboo tea tray.

A Guide to Chinese Flower Tea: Five Famous Varieties and Their Unique Charm

Written by: Camille Liu

March 29, 2025

Time to read 4 min

Introduction

Flower tea, also known as scented tea or floral infusion, is a distinctive category of Chinese tea. High-quality flower tea has a yellow-green, glossy appearance, tender and uniform infused leaves, and a mellow yet refreshing taste. It combines the aroma of fresh flowers with the essence of tea leaves, creating a multi-layered and elegant flavor profile.

Drinking flower tea is not only a visually and aromatically pleasing experience but also offers gentle support for the body’s natural balance — often improving its constitution over time. Below are five of the most renowned and representative types of Chinese flower tea.

1. Jasmine Tea

Also known as Jasmine Scented Tea, Jasmine Tea is the most popular flower tea in China. Depending on the region, the production methods and quality vary, with each offering its own characteristics. The most famous producing areas include Fuzhou and Fuding in Fujian, Jinhua in Zhejiang, Suzhou in Jiangsu, Yaan in Sichuan, Xi County and Huangshan in Anhui, Hengxian in Guangxi, and Chongqing.

Jasmine tea uses a tea base called " cha pi, "most commonly made from green tea, though black or oolong tea bases are occasionally used. The process involves layering tea leaves with fresh jasmine blossoms and allowing the leaves to absorb the floral fragrance through multiple scenting rounds. Interestingly, the dried jasmine petals found in the finished product are mostly decorative—the aroma has already been infused into the tea.

Handcrafted Nv Er Huan tea leaves arranged in a circular pattern on a white plate, showcasing their unique earring-like shape and vibrant green color.

Single yellow chrysanthemum flower gently floating in a cup of pale golden chrysanthemum tea, with a soft blossom branch in the background.

🌸 Quality Characteristics:

Appearance: Jasmine tea leaves are plump, tightly rolled, and uniformly shaped with visible silvery white hairs.
Infused Leaf: The infused leaves are tender, soft, even, and tightly curled with whole buds and petals.
Liquor and Flavor: High-quality jasmine tea brews to a bright yellow-green liquor, crystal-clear with a long-lasting floral fragrance. The taste is smooth, mellow, and aromatic.

2. Nv Er Huan (Girl’s Earring Tea)

Also known as Golden Jade Ring, this unique flower tea gets its name from its resemblance to a girl’s earring. It is primarily produced in Yunnan and Fujian provinces and is considered a premium artisanal tea in the floral tea category.

Nv Er Huan is crafted from high-grade green tea buds, using techniques such as spreading, steaming, sieving, and manual shaping. It maintains the freshness and natural green color of the tea leaves. Because of its handcrafted ring shape and elegant visual presentation, it offers both tasting and aesthetic value.

Four white chrysanthemum flowers floating in a glass of golden-hued tea, showcasing the clarity and elegance of premium chrysanthemum infusion.

Multiple white chrysanthemum flowers blooming in a glass cup of golden herbal tea, capturing the beauty and clarity of traditional floral infusion.

🌿 Quality Characteristics:

Appearance: The finished tea is ring-shaped with a soft fuzz, vibrant green hues, and a charming silhouette.
Infused Leaf: The leaves are yellow-green, intact, and consistently soft, with tender buds still attached to their stems.
Liquor and Flavor: The tea brews to a clear yellow-green or light yellow liquor, bright and glossy with a rich floral aroma. The flavor is smooth, thick, and sweet, with a lingering aftertaste.

3. Huangshan Tribute Chrysanthemum

Also known as Huizhou Chrysanthemum, this variety ranks among China’s “Four Famous Chrysanthemums”, alongside Hangzhou White Chrysanthemum, Chuzhou Chrysanthemum, and Hao Chrysanthemum. Huangshan Gongju sits at the top of the list due to its premium quality and long-standing history as a tribute tea to the emperors.

Known for its pure white petals, green calyx, small flower center, uniform appearance, and sweet-floral aroma, this tea has been praised by the Chinese Pharmacopoeia as the “King of Chrysanthemums” and a “national treasure.”

Cup of rose tea with vibrant pink rose petals floating in golden infusion, served on a floral-patterned saucer over a rustic wooden table.

Glass cup of jasmine tea with white blossoms floating in golden liquor, gently steaming on a wooden surface beside fresh jasmine flowers and leaves.

🌼 Quality Characteristics:

Appearance: Full, well-formed flower heads that remain intact. After processing, the color changes from bright yellow to light yellow or white with a green calyx and glossy surface.
Infused Flower: The flower becomes translucent and juicy, maintaining a fresh appearance even after multiple brews.
Liquor and Flavor: The tea liquor is clear, bright yellow with an oily sheen . It has no sediment , a rich floral aroma, and a flavor that is sweet with slight bitterness — soft yet refreshing.

4. Hangzhou White Chrysanthemum

Also known as Small Tang Huang, Little White Chrysanthemum, or Button Chrysanthemum, this tea is mainly produced in Tongxiang, Zhejiang Province, known as the hometown of Hangzhou White Chrysanthemum.

Hang Bai Ju is one of China’s most famous chrysanthemum teas, cultivated for centuries and often mentioned alongside West Lake Longjing. It remains popular in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia.

White ceramic cup filled with rose tea, featuring whole rosebuds and petals steeping in warm golden infusion on a wooden tabletop.

🌼 Quality Characteristics:

Appearance: Top-grade flowers are plump with thick petals and uniform size. High-quality teas have no signs of frostbite, mold, or incomplete steaming (which causes darkened or underdeveloped flowers).
Infused Flower: The petals unfurl into a pearly white, while the core remains golden yellow.
Liquor and Flavor: The tea brews to a clear, pale yellow infusion with a delicate aroma and slightly bitter-sweet taste. Higher-grade teas offer more floral clarity and balance.

5. Rose Tea

Rose tea is primarily produced in Pingyin, Shandong Province. It is a high-end flower tea made by blending fresh rosebuds with tea buds or tips, using modern scenting technology to preserve its intense and elegant aroma.

Roses have long been regarded as a medicinal flower in Chinese culture, known for their beauty-enhancing and skin-nourishing effects. Because rose tea contains compounds like geraniol, nerol, and citronellol, it is also widely used as a natural fragrance in both food and cosmetics.

Overhead view of people preparing flower tea blends at a rustic wooden table with bowls of dried floral ingredients, a clay teapot, and fresh blossoms.

Hands carefully sorting fresh rosebuds and petals on a bamboo drying rack, part of the traditional rose flower tea processing method.

🌹 Quality Characteristics:

Appearance: Premium rose tea features large, plump, full-bodied flowers with few impurities and vibrant color.
Infused Flower: Once brewed, the red or pink petals gradually fade to pale yellow, retaining their form.
Liquor and Flavor: The infusion is light reddish or earthy yellow, with a sweet, floral aroma that is rich but not overpowering. Top-quality rose tea has no bitterness or off-flavors.

Final Thoughts: The Art and Aroma of Flower Tea

Flower tea represents the perfect marriage of tea craftsmanship and floral elegance. Each type—whether it's the familiar jasmine, the artistic Nv Er Huan, or the royal Huangshan Chrysanthemum—offers a unique sensory experience that reflects the beauty of Chinese tea culture.

At Red Rock Tea House, we bring you authentic, high-quality flower teas, carefully sourced and artfully crafted. Whether you’re seeking inner balance, a delicate fragrance, or a visually stunning tea to share, our floral tea collection has something special waiting for you.