Chrysanthemum Tea – A Cool, Fragrant, Healthy Drink
Chrysanthemum tea is getting increasingly popular because of its tremendous health benefits. It is a natural coolant, packed with β-carotene, vitamin A, riboflavin, choline, niacin, and vitamin C, thus arguably a complete health package. It is a Chinese traditional beverage and is capturing a place in the Western culture too. Chrysanthemum tea can be enjoyed in various ways. Here are only three of them.
Chrysanthemum Tea – Basic Recipe
Chrysanthemum tea being a natural coolant, is best enjoyed in summer and fall. This basic recipe takes only 10 minutes and helps you cope up with the hot climate.
Ingredients:
- 50 gm dried flowers of chrysanthemum
- Rock sugar 50 gm or as per taste
- 1.5 liter water
Method:
Bring water to a boil and then add chrysanthemum flowers. Simmer for one or two minutes (don’t simmer for too long). Add rock sugar and turn the flame off when sugar is dissolved. Sieve the tea to remove the flowers. Serve warm or chilled.
Chrysanthemum Tea with Licorice
Ingredients
- 50 gm dried flowers of chrysanthemum
- 10 gm licorice roots (also called gan zao)
- Rock sugar 50 gm or as per taste
- 1.5 liter water
Method
Boil water and add chrysanthemum flowers and licorice roots. Simmer for two minutes and add rock sugar. Sieve through a strainer to remove the flowers and roots. Serve warm or chilled.
NOTE: Don’t drink chrysanthemum tea with licorice if you are pregnant or have hypertension.
Chrysanthemum Tea with Wolfberries
Ingredients
- 50 gm dried flowers of chrysanthemum
- 1 teaspoon wolfberries
- Rock sugar 50 gm or as per taste
- 1.5 liter water
Method
Soak wolfberries in water till they become puffy.
Boil water and add chrysanthemum and wolfberries. Boil for two minutes and add rock sugar. Pass through strainer and bring to room temperature or refrigerate. Serve warm or chilled.
Tips
- A type of chrysanthemum does not need to boil.
- You can just place it in teapot or cup and pour boiling water over it and let it stay for 5 minutes.
- Instead of using a strainer, you can use disposable pouches to place chrysanthemum flowers in them and simmer in the water. After simmering, you can take out the entire pouch conveniently.
There is a variety in chrysanthemum flowers and different colored flowers offer different health benefits. E.g. the yellow flowers (Huangjuhua) are effective in expelling wind-heat and are used in cold, fever and headache. They are also used in acute eye infections like conjunctivitis. The white flowers (Baijuhua) are cooler and sweeter and clear heat, pacify liver and benefit eyes. It is also used effectively in blurred vision, dizziness, dry eyes and tired eyes. Another variety called Yejuhua is effective in all types of boils, carbuncles and furuncles with swelling, erythema, pain and heat. It can also be used topically.
So, if you want to take out summer heat from your body, detoxify it and at the same time enjoy a nice sweet, fragrant drink, start having different types of chrysanthemum tea.