Traditional Chinese medicine experts and herbalists explain the benefits, background, and best brewing practices of chrysanthemum tea.
Acupuncturist and TCM practitioner Tsao-Lin Moy, LAc, is the founder of Integrative Healing Arts.
In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), its believed that foodcan have hot or cool properties.
In times of grief, white chrysanthemums convey love, purity, and remembrance.
For this reason, chrysanthemum tea is commonly drunk around the important Mid-Autumn Festival.
My uncles kept a transparent Thermos with them at all times, says Gong.
Shunan Teng is the founder and CEO of Tea Drunk
Like my mother, Moy passed a taste for this tea down to her daughter.
If you have too much yang, it manifests as heat.
Unchecked, built-up heat encourages related symptoms: fever, infections, sores, red eyes.
Its caffeine-free nature is indicative of its yin properties, as are its antioxidant and immune-boosting benefits.
And generally, in TCM, flowers tend to treat head, sinus, and throat conditions.
What does chrysanthemum tea taste like?
To Moy, its similar to chamomile, but with a more delicate flavor.
But sweeter and brighter, she adds.)
And Dr. Leung describes it as pleasant; flowery, but not overpowering.
Shunan Teng is the founder and CEO of Tea Drunk
Wild chrysanthemum is believed to be more potent than cultivated varieties of the plant, says Teng.
This is a difference of evolution.
Herbs are not generally used singularly, explains Dr. Leung.
Theyre usually in combinations, even if its a simple one.
With chrysanthemum, you’re free to pair it with honeysuckle, which is also head-clearing.
Combining it with prunella is also commonso much so that youll find it in 7-Elevens across China.
Teng also suggests adding dried dates to the combo.
Goji and dates are good for warming the body and are popular among ladies in China, she says.
When combined with chrysanthemum, it becomes a balanced drink.
How to choose quality chrysanthemum tea
Herbalists and TCM practitioners like to keep it simple.
Moy opts for organic and looks for pops of bright yellow.
If possible, smell themthe scent should still be fresh, she says.
Gong prefers to judge by sourcing.
Its not always easy to tell if the chrysanthemums are good with naked eyes.
Teng adds white and light yellow blossoms from Hang Zhou to the list.
Its another top terroir chrysanthemum, she says.
But generally speaking, more important is the condition of the flowers.
A critical indicator is how open they are, she says.
Plus, its medicinal, so its not about ritual.
The flower is praised for its unassuming beauty and self respect, she says.
It blooms after all the colorful flowers finish competing in the summer and doesnt show off in any way.
Less to think or worry about, more to enjoy.
I think we can all drink to that.
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