Chrysanthemum tea is a flower-based infusion beverage made from chrysanthemum flowers of the species Chrysanthemum morifolium or Chrysanthemum indicum, which are most popular in East Asia, especially China. To prepare the tea, chrysanthemum flowers are steeped in hot water in either a teapot, cup, or glass; often rock sugar or cane sugar is also added, and occasionally also wolfberries. The resulting drink is transparent and ranges from pale to bright yellow in color, with a floral aroma. In Chinese tradition, once a pot of chrysanthemum tea has been drunk, hot water is typically added again to the flowers in the pot ; this process is often repeated several times. Chrysanthemum tea was first drunk during the Song Dynasty.
Varieties
China
Several varieties of chrysanthemum, ranging from white to pale or bright yellow in color, are used for tea. These include:
Huángshān-gòngjú ; also called simply gòngjú
Hángbáijú, originating from Tongxiang, near Hangzhou; also called simply Hángjú,
Of these, the first two are most popular. Some varieties feature a prominent yellow flower head while others do not.
Korea
Gukhwacha is made from dried Indian chrysanthemum collected before fully opened.
Chrysanthemum tea – The flowers are blanched in bamboo salt water, carefully washed in cold water and drained on kitchen towel. The drained flowers are covered with hanji and dried in an ondol room. When served, three to four flowers are added to hot water.
Honey chrysanthemum tea – The flowers are carefully washed and dried, then preserved in honey for three to four weeks. When served, the preserved flowers are added to hot water.
Medicinal chrysanthemum tea – The flowers are washed carefully, steamed using the water mixed with herbal decoction and dried. When fully dried, they are steamed again, and dried again. This process is repeated nine times. Water to decoction ratio can be 8:1, and the decoction is usually made of dried roots of white woodland peony, steamed and dried roots of rehmannia, dried roots of Korean angelica, and dried roots of lovage.
Although typically prepared at home, chrysanthemum tea is also available as a beverage in many East Asian restaurants, and is also available from various drinks outlets in EastAsia as well as Asian grocery stores outside Asia in canned or packed form, be it in whole in grain or teabag presentation.
