Pfingstblütentee

English translation: white peony tea

10:50 Oct 27, 2010
German to English translations [PRO]
Cooking / Culinary / from a novel
German term or phrase: Pfingstblütentee
This is from a novel, so I guess in one sense the precise nature of the herbal tea doesn't matter, but I'd like to know what it is as I'm none the wiser from googling!

"Fünf Minuten später saßen wir im Garden Café bei Pfingstblütentee und Kirschkuchen."

Does anyone know what this might be? Thanks!
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:16
English translation:white peony tea
Explanation:
This is really a guess.
I have never heard of "Pfingstblüten" or "Pfingstblumen", but am familiar with "Pfingstrosen" - peonies. I don't believe it is possible to make a tea out of peony, but a certain kind of Chinese white tea is referred to as "white peony tea".

See, for example:
http://www.fmltea.com/tea/white-peony-tea.htm

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Note added at 26 mins (2010-10-27 11:16:54 GMT)
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Interestingly, however, this tea is only picked between March 15 and April 10, i.e. closer to Easter than Pentecost!
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Peony_Tea

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-10-27 12:37:35 GMT)
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I have also tried googling "Pfingstrosentee". Not many hits, but it does seem to exist!

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Note added at 7 days (2010-11-03 13:49:47 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the feedback, Rachel. I have some of these growing in my garden and had no idea they were edible!

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

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Note added at 7 days (2010-11-03 13:50:56 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

"Nachtkerzentee", then. And yes, they do "start" to flower around Whitsun (if Whitsun is quite late), but go on until late Summer.
Selected response from:

Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 09:16
Grading comment
Thanks Colin - this answer is definitely the most convincing. I have now heard from the author that what she actually meant was evening primrose tea, though.
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +2white peony tea
Colin Rowe
3Hibiscus-tea
Anna Gerratana
2Lady's smock tea
inkweaver
1hawthorn tea
Claire Cox


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Hibiscus-tea


Explanation:
I think it is the right translation.

Anna Gerratana
Italy
Local time: 09:16
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Helen Shiner: I think that is generally called Malventee or Hibiskus-tee
1 hr
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
hawthorn tea


Explanation:
This is a real guess based on the "Pfingst"/Whitsun analogy. Whitsun is our late May bank holiday and hawthorn is also known as May blossom, so I wonder if could be the same in Germany?

See:

http://www.herbsociety.org.uk/hom-hawthorn.htm

Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 41
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Lady's smock tea


Explanation:
This is my guess...

According to the Wikipedia article (link below), Wiesenschaumkraut is also known as "Bettbrunzer, blaues Brunnenkressich, Fleischblume, Gauchblume, Harnsamen, Maiblume, Marienblume, Pinksterbloem, Präriekraut, Schaumkraut, Storchenschnäbli, Strohblume, Wasserkraut, Wiesenkresse und Wilde Kresse".

Since "Pinksterbloem" means "Pfingstblume" my guess is that this might be the plant referred to here. The plant has been traditionally used to make infusions.


    Reference: http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiesen-Schaumkraut
inkweaver
Germany
Local time: 09:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 8
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
white peony tea


Explanation:
This is really a guess.
I have never heard of "Pfingstblüten" or "Pfingstblumen", but am familiar with "Pfingstrosen" - peonies. I don't believe it is possible to make a tea out of peony, but a certain kind of Chinese white tea is referred to as "white peony tea".

See, for example:
http://www.fmltea.com/tea/white-peony-tea.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2010-10-27 11:16:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Interestingly, however, this tea is only picked between March 15 and April 10, i.e. closer to Easter than Pentecost!
See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Peony_Tea

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-10-27 12:37:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have also tried googling "Pfingstrosentee". Not many hits, but it does seem to exist!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 days (2010-11-03 13:49:47 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the feedback, Rachel. I have some of these growing in my garden and had no idea they were edible!

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oenothera_biennis

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 days (2010-11-03 13:50:56 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

"Nachtkerzentee", then. And yes, they do "start" to flower around Whitsun (if Whitsun is quite late), but go on until late Summer.

Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 09:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 22
Grading comment
Thanks Colin - this answer is definitely the most convincing. I have now heard from the author that what she actually meant was evening primrose tea, though.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Helen Shiner: Correct!
1 hr
  -> Thanks again, Helen!

agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): stimmt
5 hrs
  -> Hope so! Thanks!

neutral  Vere Barzilai: but why white? Well, it`s a Garden Café, which implies some fancy, flowery tastes :)
1 day 6 hrs
  -> See references! It is actually a "white tea", but apparently resembles peony petals! Tea made from peony does also seem to exist, however - but is not, I believe, something that one would be likely to find in a café!
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