I'll send an email to the Shanghai vendor and ask him what he knows
about artificial flavorings and color. It never occurred to me but I
thought at the most the 'natural' flower would add a little taste. For
example you can buy Jasmine and Osmanthus arrangements. My only
experience so far is a jar of Fairy Peach green tea from Chinatown.
However no flower appears when blossomed. It is one of my favorite
green teas from China with multiple infusions. The price wasn't bad
$10/170g for many pods.

Jim

PS Where there is tourism there is gouging. Ski slopes come to mind.
My favorite American ripoff Beer and Peanuts at a baseball game.

Dominic T. wrote:
Mydnight wrote:
I'm starting to buy Artisan teas from a vendor in Shanghai.

Actually, I've heard many people say that buying these teas can be
harmful to your health because they have to add certain things into the
teas when making them; plastics to hold the shape of the "seed pod",
dyes, etc. Most people I've talked to only view the teas and never
drink them. I mean, it is just a bunch of flowers.

I have heard the same and have drank a few that I instantly picked up
an "off" taste from that was a chemical taste. I have also had a few
that were very good, but not mind-blowing. I think artisan teas are
just a novelty, nothing more nothing less. Generally a novelty that
ends up costing more than a high quality tea that produces a much
better brew.

FWIW the one that sticks out in my mind as having the chemical taste
was a lotus shaped lotus flavored green tea brought back from Bejing.