Is it food? Eight Precious San Pao Tai Tea

So a while ago I was invited to a wedding. My freshly married friend was (and is) an anthropologist who specializes in Chinese minority cultures, so our wedding treats were…interesting. One of the items I received in my goody kit was a mysterious beverage kit labeled “Eight Precious San Pao Tai Tea.” It looked like this:

Mmm... steamy...

And it took me about three years to build up the courage to actually make and drink it.

Hot tea. Sugar crystals. Floaty bits. Read on for more.