Harlow's hot toddy

Executive Chef Aaron Anderson
Harlow's, San Juan Capistrano

Blooming, or flowering, tea is a bundle of tea leaves and dried flowers. When placed in hot water, the bundle "blooms" and becomes the centerpiece of the drink.

Ingredients

1 oz. simple syrup or honey
2 slices lemon
2 oz. tequila
Chinese blooming tea
6 oz. boiling water
Cinnamon stick and lemon wheel, for garnish

Directions

Muddle syrup and lemon slices together in a glass; remove lemon. Add tequila, blooming tea and hot water. Let tea open and cool before serving. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and lemon wheel.

Hostess tip: If you're serving a crowd, make a large batch of syrup, lemon, tequila and water ahead of time and keep hot enough to steep the blooming tea bundles. As guests begin to arrive, place a bundle of tea in each glass and top with hot liquid. Everyone will have fun watching the flowers "bloom."

Serves 1