Whittard Rose Bloom Flowering Tea Review
I spend Valentine’s day with what I love most in the world. Tea.
The Whittard Rose Bloom Flowering Tea caught my eye a week ago, and I just had to have it as my Valentine’s tea treat.
For those that don’t know, a blooming tea is made from tea leaves, flower petals and more. They’re handsewn into a ball and dried like normal tea. When they’re submerged in freshly boiled water, the ball expands and the flowers literally bloom out of it.
With blooming tea, the show is just as important as the taste, so make sure you take a good look at my tea review pictures to see the flowering tea come to life!
Whittard Rose Bloom at a Glance
Izzy's Rating
3.6/5
- Blend: Green tea with whole marigold blooms and rose buds
- Flavour: Mellow sweetness from the marigold with nutty green tea notes and floral aroma
Although this tea tastes delightful, the flavour is completely void of any rose notes or aroma. It is a beautiful display that is perfect for Valentine’s Day or just an afternoon dinner party.
Full Review - Whittard Rose Blooming Tea
Izzy's Rating
3.6/5
- Type: Blooming
- Tea: Green tea
- Additives: Marigold (16%), rose (4%)
- Flavour Notes: Mellow and sweet with subtle woody, nutty notes
- Aroma: Floral (marigold) and bright
- Milk or Lemon: Neither
- Where to Buy: Whittard Official Website
Blooming tea is beautiful to behold, I truly love watching the flowers unfurl in my glass teapot. Whittard’s Rose Bloom Flowering tea contains large marigold blooms and a small rose bud encased in a green tea ball.
I was expecting a beautiful rose bloom with soft pink or red petals to unfurl, but instead I witnessed two marigold flower heads and a tiny rose bud that floated at the top. Don’t get me wrong, it was absolutely stunning to watch, but for a tea named Rose Bloom, I was expecting something completely different.
This is a very light brew but full of flavour. I was instantly reminded of chamomile as the tea hit my tongue – it has that same mellow, sweetness with a hint of muskiness. There is a distinct yet subtle nuttiness from the green tea leaves. Although marigold leaves are bitter when brewed, the marigold petals are pleasantly sweet, woodsy and smooth. They also have some interesting health benefits thanks to their anti-inflammatory properties.
My teapot holds 3 small tea cups, the first was very light and impossible to put down… but there wasn’t even a hint of rose to it. I let the tea bloom brew for far longer than I normally would, just to see if the rose flavours would pull through. But there was no hint of rose even by the end of the third cup.
Once fully brewed, you’ll see a beautiful floral display inside your teapot!
How to Brew Blooming Tea
This is a green tea, so you need to brew this at 80°C.
Start by filling your teapot with boiling water, pour out and repeat. This will warm the teapot and keep your tea hotter for longer. Let it cool to 80°C and then add your Whittard Rose Bloom Flowering Tea. Use one bulb for the whole pot.
It costs £10 for a pack of 5 bulbs. You can, of course, use one bulb for one large teacup, but I found that one was perfect for a 2-4 cup teapot. That puts the price per cup at anywhere from 66p to £2. Whittard state that the flowers can be reinfused up to 3 times, but I wouldn’t advise it. It’s not going to improve the flavour.
This tea is finished brewing once the marigolds and rose bud tea has fully bloomed. It’s beautiful to watch and I highly recommend you use a glass teapot so you can admire from all angles.
Although the liquid looks clear and the taste is smooth, it’s doesn’t lack flavour! I wouldn’t drink this tea on an empty stomach as it could be overpowering. Instead, it’s perfect for afternoon tea or just as a treat for 1 person with a few sandwiches or cakes.
Why Whittard Valentines' Tea?
This caught my eye as a Valentine’s Day treat for myself. My true love is tea, after all. I knew Whittard wouldn’t disappoint. The bulbs are in a sealed plastic sleeve, nothing special and pretty bad for storing tea in, but the rest of the packaging was delightful.
The card box has silver embellishments and Whittard included a sheet of delicate white tissue paper in the box for wrapping it up as a gift. The bloom is equally beautiful.
It doesn’t state where the green tea is sourced from, but we do know that creating blooming tea is an art that only tea artisans can do. The marigold flowers, rose bud and tea leaves are handsewn together – this can’t be replicated by a machine.
For Valentine’s Day gifts, I would go to Whittard every time. They perfectly combine romance with quality in a way other tea brands just don’t get close to.
Summary – Whittard Rose Bloom Flowering Tea
The Whittard Rose Bloom Flowering Tea is amazing – it just isn’t what it says on the tin. Expect a light green tea with intense yet pleasurable marigold flavours.
Even with such a delicious taste, the visual show this tea performs far outshines the flavour.
If you are looking for a tea that really highlights the delicate flavour of rose, I would recommend Twinings Rose Garden tea. Or, for another light afternoon brew, Whittard’s Jasmine Green Tea.
Whittard number 753; the pack includes 5 tea bulbs. Store in a sealed airtight container if you’re not going to brew all bulbs within a few weeks of opening.
About Me
On a day like today, no one loves tea more than me. To share in my love of tea, make sure you browse through my tea review and advice articles here at Izzy’s Corner on Immortal Wordsmith. You’ll find great recommendations to help you make the most of your favourite cuppa and choose a new tea for yourself or as a gift.
Let Your Tea Knowledge Bloom
If you’re not sure what rose tea would taste like even if you tried it, you need to brush up on your tea knowledge! Forget reading long Wikipedia pages, check out The English Tea Book. In my book I cover some of the most popular, common and delicious tea infusions in the UK, including rose.
Subscribe to Immortal Wordsmith for an update when the book is published!