Guess what this is a photo of!

[msmofet]

Not leechy nuts and not rice balls

Another hint: They're kind of like a chia-pet in that they come to life with water!

animal or vegetable?

 

[les]

chrysanthemum buds?

 

[getoutamykitchen]

Cyanara (Cynara) Cardunculus; Cardoon

 

[Cooksie]

They are not flowers like you would plant in your yard, but they do bloom.

 

[les]

they look like those little Chinese paper flowers

 

[Cooksie]

They are Chinese/Asian, and they are flowers of a sort, but not paper.

You're getting vvverrryyyyy close.

 

[les]

I know them...& I call them Chinese paper flowers lol
but I can't remember the correct name...how annoying, I used to have them in the garden...they are little & they close up when the sun goes in

 

[getoutamykitchen]

Is is a type of lotus? Maybe an aquatic flower of some sort?

 

[les]

mesembryantheum ?

 

[Cooksie]

Here's a really, really good hint:

 

[les]

Chinese herbs ?

 

[Cooksie]

Can you be a little more specific????

 

[les]

Cooksie..is that cat for real??
looks like he's smiling

I wish I could be more specific...I can only think of some sort of herb that's Chinese, sorry mate

 

[Cooksie]

It's actually a leaf that is often mixed with herbs.

The cat pic is just an avatar that I found. He is a cutie.

 

[les]

& the name?

 

[getoutamykitchen]

I'm take one more stab at this and say...

Coquitos or also known as Baby Coconuts

 

[Cooksie]

I'm obviously not very good at giving hints, but this hint should do it:

Earl Grey + Posies

If you've never seen these things, you're going to love them. Some of them are gorgeous. I saw them for the first time several months ago on tv, maybe the Travel Channel.

 

[phinz]

They're Jasmine Pearls.

 

[Cooksie]

phinz is right! I was just looking for tea flowers or blooming tea. I had never heard them called tea posies. Here's a video.

YouTube - Teaposy - Blooming Teas

 

[snack_pack85]

how beautiful!!