Each of these tea buds costs Rs 175

And they're still worth it

At the tea party at Thai High, however, you'll get to taste a fine combination of blooming and floral teas like daisy, rose, jasmine pearls, Dragon Balls, Bathing Beauty, carnation with Magic Peach, Fairy with Flower, beautiful flowers, Full Moon and Lily Basket. The exotic tea buds undergo a rigorous process of selection before you can hold a cup in your hand.

The mere touch of hot water at 120 degrees makes jasmine pearl, rose and daisy buds blossom in your tea cup. Charming aromas emanate and the unfolding of the tea bud offers a suspensefulu00a0 'Alice in Wonderland' moment, tou00a0 the uninitiated. The Dragon Ball varieties of bud teas are special, in that they are hand-sewn.

Damp tea leaves are flattened and sewn with cotton thread, into different shapes and bundles. Sewing the shape can take a minute or 10, depending on the design. The bundles thenu00a0 undergo the usual drying and oxidation process before the final packing. Most of them are made by artisans in the southwestern district of Yunnan in China.

Thousand Years Tea (Rs 175/- a bud), the most popular in the Dragon Ball variety, offers a customised strengthu00a0-- a single bud with multiple hot water toppings is the norm. A big ball of hand-tied jasmine wrapped around a globe red amaranth 'Dragon Eye' flower can be used for a number of servings.

If that doesn't sound good enough, there are health reasons to be part of the do. "In China, tea is served along with the meals instead of water as it burns down more fat than even hot water. Considering the availability of exotic flavours, tea is not just any drink," reiterates Ritika Mamik, partner, Thai High.

The Fine Art of Tea Drinking
Where: Thai High, Ambawatta Complex, Kalkadass Marg, Mehrauli
Ring: 26641796
Price: Rs 175u00a0plus taxes
Timings: Noon to 12.30 am

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