Geographical and Climatic Advantages:
Guilin, Guangxi, is renowned as “the Hometown of Osmanthus,” with a cultivation history spanning over a thousand years. It primarily features the Golden Osmanthus variety, whose flowers emit a rich, long-lasting fragrance.Blessed with a humid climate, fertile soil, and excellent water quality in the Lijiang River basin, the region provides ideal conditions for osmanthus trees to thrive. Guilin osmanthus tea is crafted using traditional scenting techniques, where tea leaves and osmanthus flowers are layered alternately. As the floral aroma infuses into the tea base, it creates the distinctive “gold hidden in leaves” appearance.
1. Production Process
The traditional production process involves 8 steps, including tea base scenting, aerating to dissipate heat, sieving out flower residues, and re-roasting for drying. The key points are as follows:
Harvesting fresh sweet olive flowers: Flowers must be hand-picked when they are in the bud stage to avoid aroma loss caused by mechanical damage.
Scenting ratio: Typically, 50kg of tea base is paired with 15kg of fresh sweet olive flowers. Multi-layer stacking is used to ensure full integration of tea aroma and floral scent.
Temperature control: The temperature must be maintained at 26-30°C during scenting. Aeration is carried out to dissipate heat and prevent high temperatures from damaging the aroma.
2. Brewing Methods and Combinations
Basic Brewing
Use 3g of dried sweet olive flowers (about 1 teaspoon) and brew with 300ml of 80°C hot water. Steep for 3 minutes before drinking, and the tea can be refilled 2-3 times.
Cold brewing method: Mix sweet olive flowers with mineral water and chill for 4 hours. The tea is icy and sweet, ideal for post-exercise consumption.
Creative Combinations
Sweet Olive Longjing Tea: The freshness of green tea overlaps with the fragrance of sweet olive flowers, which is highly effective in cutting greasiness.
Sweet Olive Red Date Tea: Tear 2 red dates apart and add to the tea. It warms the uterus and enhances complexion, suitable for women during menstruation.
Sweet Olive Honey Tea: Cool the brewed tea to 60°C before adding honey. It soothes the throat and relieves coughs, and drinking it before bed aids sleep.
Sweet Olive Dried Tangerine Peel Tea: Pair with 3g of dried tangerine peel. It dissolves phlegm and regulates qi, making it more suitable for relieving coughs during seasonal changes.
3. Storage Methods
Package the tea in double-layered airtight bags, add lime or desiccants to prevent moisture, and store it in a cool, dark place. The shelf life is usually 1 year.
After opening, it is recommended to consume the tea within 3 months to avoid loss of aroma.
