CARNATION STRONG STEM

There are many rituals and beliefs stemming from the carnation one of the world's oldest flowers. According to an ancient Christian legend the first carnations to appear on earth sprung from the ground in Israel as Jesus passed by carrying his cross. His mother Mary exceedingly distraught at the sight of her son in his final hours wept and wept. Where her tears fell the flowers miraculously grew. The ancient Greeks and Romans also had a religious take on the flowers and believed the faces of the gods could be seen in each and every bloom. As such they were used to decorate temples and other places of worship. The flower's religious meaning is reflected in their scientific name Dianthus caryophyllus which translates variously as flower of love and flower of the gods .

These days carnations are traditionally associated with expressions of love fascination and distinction. Depending on where you live they can also be associated with luck! For example if you venture a little farther north from Rome Greece or Israel to Oxford University during exam times you'll see Carnations everywhere. Students at the esteemed institution traditionally wear a white carnation in their lapel when they sit for their first exam a red carnation during their last exam and pink carnations for all exams in between. They can also symbolize great change. In Portugal carnations symbolize the end - in 1974 - of the country's former communist regime and transition to a liberal democracy an event known as the Carnation Revolution. At the time ordinary citizens took to the streets and stood down the army armed with nothing but red carnations. So you can see this is a flower with some power.

Harnessing that power was the goal of the artisan who first created this wonderful hand crafted work of tea-art. By folding the delicate carnation blooms into full green leaves we believe he succeeded. When infused the tea steadily bursts open as the leaves unfurl and the carnation opens. The cup is light liquoring with delicate notes of grass layered with floral tones and a slight touch of clove. A wonderful tea to share. Brew a pot (use a glass pot like our name to go here pot for best visual results) and relax away an afternoon pondering the rich history of a beautiful flower.