The Wonderful Story of Faham Tea

• Home
• About
• Sitemap
• Contact
• Privacy Policy

The Wonderful Story of Faham Tea

Monday, December 1st, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Orchid flowers are among nature’s most fascinating productions. For many of us, they bring happiness simply by their presence in our living spaces or our greenhouses. It must be admitted that other than their loveliness, orchids possess little practicality for people, with the singular exception of the orchid that give us our vanilla flavoring.

If you had been around eighty to a hundred years ago, though, you would possibly have had occasion to taste an aromatic tea created from the leaves of a rare orchid. This drink, commonly called Faham tea, achieved some celebrity in France in the early part of the 20th century. Specifically, it was brewed from the sweet smelling leaves of the Angraecum fragrans orchid (also recorded as the Jumella fragrans).

The unusual orchid was a native to the Isle de Reunion off the African coast. An epiphytal species known  on the island as “faham,” its usage as tea is credited to Reunion’s indigenous people, who are reported to have been the first to discover how tasty it could be.

An article in a horticultual magazine from 1924 recorded that Faham tea had been introduced into France, where some people were drinking it as a substitute for “Chinese” (i.e., regular) tea. “Every work on botany of any importance similarly places it in the foremost rank of the beneficial productions of  this favored clime (Reunion),” the writer says. “One of our most illustrious writers George Sand eulogizes it in the midst of the fine description of the Island of Bourbon.” Bourbon was an earlier name for Reunion, by the way.

The orchid involved was known to grow very high on the slopes of the island, far within almost inaccessible forests. The difficulties attendant on gathering a large amount of this plant meant that Faham tea, as a viable commercial product, was doomed to fail. Despite widespread agreement as to the tea’s tastiness, it was completely forgotten by mid- 20th century.

Most of us won’t ever know what Faham tea tastes like. But, if you happen to be lucky enough to be growing a specimen or two of the necessary orchid, you could sacrifice a handful of leaves and make some yourself. To brew the tea, you first bring water to a boil in a tea kettle. Then, you put in some dried orchid leaves (approximately as much per cup as you would regular tea) to the water, bringing down the heat and allowing it to steep for a few minutes.

A flyer published in the 1920s promoting Faham tea says:

It can be used as a substitute for tea on all occasions as it combines its tonic and digestive qualities free from the sleepless effect. It possesses an aroma of great delicacy capable of being rendered more or less pungent according to the quantity used and it gives forth a most agreeable perfume. After being drank, it leaves a lasting fragrance in the mouth, and in a closed room the odor of it can be recognized long after.

This beverage has the further advantage over tea which requires to be drank at the time of making, in that it can be reserved for a future occasion if requisite, and may either be taken cold or made hot again. Milk or spirits in small quantities, especially rum, serve to develope its aroma and lending it additional delicacy or greater strength render it a delicious drink. Lastly this valuable plant is made use of to flavor custards and ices, to which it communicates its delicate fragrance.

Sounds delicious. Faham tea, anyone?

Now, if you think you would like to try your hand at growing orchids, suitable for tea or elsewise, you will need accurate instructions.

Nowadays, of course, we have an abundance of excellent information on the correct way to grow orchids. The most complete guidebook to expert orchid gardening, many growers agree, is Orchid Care Expert by Nigel Howard, which is available to be downloaded from the web. Mr. Howard’s guide is a full course in itself, perfect for novices as well as the more experienced. Also, check out the Orchid Secrets website, which is publishing an ever-growing library of postings on all aspects of orchid care.

Leave a Reply