Orange Blossom Black Tea Recipe: A Cup Inspired by The Mudpuddle
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It is my dream to have tea with Minerva from The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic by Ciara Blume. Minerva is a wise and powerful elderly witch who is also filled with her own experience of humanity. She has a kind heart. I find her especially endearing and it sounds like she makes the best pots of tea to sip with tasty treats out of lovely cups.
This floral tea blend is what I imagine Minerva might make for a morning of respite before the day starts. Her herbal tea ritual would likely include careful crafting of her tea. Then sitting at a lovely table nestled in her bookshop’s bay window, she would sip from her cup while the world wakes outside her window. Lemon cookies and cheese hunks are close at hand, especially if Minerva’s friend Zephyr is visiting.
How To Brew Your Literary Inspired Tea
This floral tea blend recipe makes one big mug of tea or two small cups to share.
Ingredients
2 cups boiling water
1 tablespoon dried orange blossom (Citrus aurantium) flowers*
2 teaspoons loose black tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves, substitute decaf or rooibos for a caffeine-free option
1 pinch dried lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) flowers
Dash of orange blossom hydrosol*, recommended yet optional
Dash of vanilla extract, optional
Honey, optional
Milk or cream, optional
Directions
Place the orange blossoms, black tea, and lavender flowers in a tea pot or other heat-proof container.
Add the boiling water and cover with a lid to keep the aromatic compounds from escaping into the air along with the steam.
Steep for 3 to 5 minutes.
Add the orange blossom hydrosol and vanilla extract if using.
Strain the herbs out and add a bit of honey and a dash of milk if you wish!
Enjoy the magic in your tea cup!
*Don’t have orange blossom flowers? Try substituting 2 teaspoons of orange blossom hydrosol. Hydrosols are a by-product of essential oil distillation and are a wonderful preparation in their own right.
Please check out our beginner’s guide to hydrosols to learn more!
Note: if you plan to use orange blossom hydrosol in your tea, make sure you obtain a high-quality food grade hydrosol and store it according to package directions. Some hydrosols are meant only for topical applications and are not suitable for consumption.
Orange Blossom Benefits (aka Neroli)
Have you ever smelled an orange tree in bloom? The aroma is absolutely gorgeous! And so it is no surprise that the flowers have made their way into aromatherapy and more. As an aromatic, the smell of orange blossom helps to bring calm to the mind and body. This relaxing nervine action makes its way into water extractions. The flowers are also traditionally used to help support digestion making them a lovely addition to the tea cup..
If you want to meet Minerva, pick up a copy of The Mudpuddle Manual of Natural Magic! You can also get a beautiful character card of Minerva and some of the other characters from this beautiful story on Ciara Blume’s Merch page! This is one of my favorite cozy fantasy books! I hope you will give it a read and that you enjoy it as much as I did.
Want to learn more about tea blending? Check out The Herbal Academy’s Tea Blending 101 Mini Course to learn more and dive deep into the cup!
Until next time, nerdy fairies! Wishing that you find daily magic in your tea cup!
References
Han, Emily. (n.d.). Orange Blossom Tea. Retrieved on 4/18/2026 from https://emilyhan.com/orange-blossom-tea/
Kusmi. (n.d.). Discovering The Orange Blossom. Retrieved on 4/20/2026 from https://www.kusmitea.com/en/blogs/tea/organic-orange-blossom-teas-kusmi-tea.
Rishi. (n.d.).Bitter Orange Blossoms. Retrieved on 4/20/2026 from https://www.rishi-tea.com/blogs/journal/bitter-orange-blossoms.