How To Boil Chrysanthemum Tea — The 3 Steps Guide

“The Compendium of Materia Medica” records that chrysanthemum flowers have a “sweet taste and cold nature,” and possess the effectiveness of dispersing wind-heat, clearing the liver, and brightening the eyes.

Modern pharmacology shows that chrysanthemum flowers contain abundant vitamin A, which is an important substance for maintaining eye health. Chrysanthemum tea can help keep the mind clear and the eyes bright. It is particularly beneficial for individuals with excessive liver fire and dryness in the eyes due to excessive eye usage. People who often experience dryness in the eyes in office settings can drink more chrysanthemum tea. Many people feel that brewing chrysanthemum tea is very simple — just put dried chrysanthemum flowers in a cup and pour in boiling water. However, it is not as straightforward as it seems. So, how can we brew a good cup of chrysanthemum tea?

1. Tea Selection

To brew a good cup of chrysanthemum tea, we need to choose high-quality chrysanthemum flowers. The quality of yellow chrysanthemum flowers available in the market varies. It can be challenging to find high-quality chrysanthemum flowers if you are not familiar with the criteria. So, how can we select good quality chrysanthemum flowers?

1. Color:

When selecting chrysanthemum tea, the first thing to consider is the color of the dried flowers. If the chrysanthemum flowers appear whitish and the sepals have a dull color, they might have undergone special treatment and are not suitable for brewing tea. Dark-colored chrysanthemum flowers often indicate that they are old or have been exposed to moisture, resulting in mold. The image on the right shows high-quality chrysanthemum flowers.

2. Aroma:

High-quality chrysanthemum tea has a pleasant aroma. It carries a light, refreshing scent that makes you feel like you are in a vast chrysanthemum garden. The fragrance becomes even more pronounced when brewed with hot water.

3. Texture:

Take a few chrysanthemum flowers in your hand and gently touch them. Good chrysanthemum tea should have a soft and smooth texture. The flower size should be uniform, with petals arranged neatly without being messy or falling off. There should be no broken or impure flowers. On the other hand, lower-quality chrysanthemum tea may crumble even before you can pick it up, and it tends to produce impurities during the brewing process.

4. Appearance after Brewing:

After brewing, high-quality chrysanthemum tea will have fully expanded and gracefully spread petals, resembling a fresh flower blossoming in the cup. In contrast, poor-quality chrysanthemum tea will appear lifeless and may not fully open. Even if it does, there will be a considerable amount of sediment. In the case of chrysanthemum tea, less sediment in the tea soup is better.

5. Color of the Tea Infusion:

Excellent quality chrysanthemum tea produces a light yellow and transparent color when steeped in water.

2. Rinsing:

Similar to tea leaves, chrysanthemum flowers may accumulate dust during the drying process. Therefore, rinsing is necessary when preparing chrysanthemum tea. Pour hot water at 100 degrees Celsius over the flowers for about 3–5 seconds, then quickly drain the water.

3. Brewing:

After rinsing the flowers, pour boiling water at 100 degrees Celsius into the cup containing the chrysanthemum flowers. Let it sit briefly before consuming. It is important to note that the chrysanthemum flowers should be brewed by pouring hot water over them, rather than placing the flowers directly into boiling water.