Sichuan Honey Lemon Flower (Pesticide-Free) PREORDER
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PREORDER ONLY - ETA NOVEMBER 15
This is one of the few herbal teas we carry, and one of the few that truly excited us as a traditional tea shop.
Leo discovered this tea while visiting Sichuan in search of Mengding yellow tea. He came across a local herbal tea producer sampling their tea, and the natural sweetness immediately caught his attention. He brought some back for our customers to try, and it has been a hit ever since.
The flower, known as Mi Meng Hua (密蒙花), is traditionally used in Chinese herbal medicine rather than commonly enjoyed as a tea. But we sourced it for one simple reason: it tastes amazing.
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Leo's Story: The Flower Name I Got Wrong I went to Mengding Mountain in Sichuan looking for yellow tea. While I was there, I came across a local producer offering a flower called Mi Meng Hua (密蒙花). I tried it and thought I understood the name right away. Chinese isn't my first language. When I heard “mi,” I thought of 蜜 (mì) in 蜂蜜 (fēng mì), meaning honey. And “meng” sounded exactly like the “meng” in 柠檬 (níng méng), the Chinese word for lemon, even though the characters are different. To make it even more confusing, I was on Mengding Mountain (蒙顶山), which uses the exact same 蒙 character as the flower! The locals described the flower as tasting like honey, and I agreed. I also tasted something that reminded me of lemon skin. So everything seemed to fit: honey, lemon, and a flower I discovered on Mengding Mountain. That's how I came up with the English name “Honey Lemon Flower.” Only when I started researching the flower for our product description did I realize I'd misunderstood the name. The “mi” is 密 (mì), meaning dense or tightly packed, not 蜜 (mì), meaning honey. According to 《本草纲目》, the name describes the dense clusters of flowers covered in fine, soft hairs. It isn't named after honey or Mengding Mountain. So “Honey Lemon Flower” isn't a translation of 密蒙花. It's a name I came up with from what I thought I heard and what I actually tasted. And I still think it fits! Leo Lukidi |
What does it taste like?
Despite being made from flowers alone, this tea has a surprising natural sweetness that tastes almost as if you lightly sweetened it with real honey. There are no added sweeteners or flavors.
The flavor starts with soft citrus zest and floral notes reminiscent of lemon balm, followed by a honey-like, nectar sweetness. A subtle, ume plum-like fruitiness lingers in the aftertaste.
It has a medium body that feels refreshing and cooling without being too light or too heavy. Best of all, it has no noticeable bitterness or drying sensation, which is especially difficult to find in herbal teas.
A traditional Chinese herbal flower
In traditional Chinese medicine, Mi Meng Hua is associated with supporting eye health and helping to clear heat and reduce inflammation and stagnation in the liver, according to TCM principles. It has traditionally been used for concerns such as red or irritated eyes, excessive tearing, and blurred vision.
These are traditional medicinal uses, not proven health benefits of drinking the tea. We love this flower first and foremost for its naturally sweet, smooth flavor.
Brewing Instructions
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Teaware: A 500–600 ml teapot, glass brewer, or tumbler
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Water temperature: 205°F / 96°C
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Steep time: 35-40 seconds, or until the tea turns gold in color
Our brewing recommendation: Unlike traditional tea leaves, Mi Meng Hua doesn't offer much beyond its first good infusion. For this reason, we don't recommend gongfu brewing. Instead, brew it in a larger vessel or directly in a tumbler, so you can enjoy a satisfying cup without fussing over multiple short infusions or over-steeping.
You can also brew a larger batch to enjoy throughout the day. The flower produces a naturally smooth, sweet infusion without the bitterness that can develop with many other herbal teas, so there's no need to worry about getting every steep just right.
Our recommendation
If you're looking to avoid caffeine but still want to enjoy tea for exactly what it is, this is a great place to start.
We're often used to seeing herbal teas blended with fruits, spices, and other flowers to build flavor or cover up the taste of the main ingredient. Mi Meng Hua shows that this isn't always necessary. Just like a quality traditional tea, a single herb can shine entirely on its own, offering a complete and satisfying experience without anything added to it.
With its natural honey-like sweetness, soft citrus notes, and smooth finish, this is a tea you can enjoy simply for the flower itself. No blends, no sweeteners, no need to dress it up.
Region: Ya’an, Sichuan, China
All products shipped from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.