Chrysanthemum Tea

This maybe the easiest recipe that I have ever posted, but it is too good not to be shared with you. I grew up drinking this tea. My mom always made it for my sister and I during hot summer days. When we came home from school, it was really nice to have a cup of cold sweet tea.

Chrysanthemum tea is made with dried Chrysanthemum flowers, water and sugar. It is sweet with an amazing floral scent. Light and refreshing. It is a very common and popular tea within Chinese. It is said that the tea aids in the recovery from cold and flu. It is also a cooling herb which can reduce the body temperature, which is perfect for summer time. I don’t know if Chrysanthemum tea really have any medical benefits, but it sure is a nice tea to enjoy.

One interesting side story: When I first saw the word “Chrysanthemum”, I just didn’t know how to pronounce it. Bryan repeated the word again and again, but I still couldn’t remember it. Out of nowhere, I came to realize the word “Chrysanthemum” sounds a lot like “Chris and his mom”. When you say “Chris and his mom” really fast, it would sound like “Chrysanthemum”. Ever since then, I can pronounce this word perfectly. 🙂

Last but not least, I will be taking a break and traveling, so I won’t be blogging for 3 weeks. Please check back on the week of February 9th. Meanwhile, follow me (@missinglokness) on Instagram for the latest photo updates. Stay tune!

Chrysanthemum Tea

2 large serving cups

Ingredients:

–   4 cups water

–   2 ounces rock sugar

–   20 – 25 pieces dried chrysanthemum

Directions:

1. In a small pot over high heat, bring the water to boil. Add the rock sugar and cook until the sugar has melted, stirring occasionally. Add the dried flowers. Cover with a lid and turn off the heat.
2. If you would like to drink the tea right away, serve immediately after 5-minute of steeping.
3. For storage, let the tea steep for 30 minutes. Remove the flowers. Let the tea cool to room temperature. Transfer to a container and keep in fridge. It can be stored for 2 days.
4. You can either drink it cold or you can reheat in the microwave for a hot drink.

Tips:

1. Rock sugar can be found in most Asian supermarkets, like 99 Ranch Market. If you can’t find it, you can use regular sugar, but probably not 2 ounces. Taste and adjust to your liking.
2. I bought my dried chrysanthemum from a Taiwanese tea store, Tea Station in San Gabriel, Los Angeles. You should be able to find them in online or some local tea stores.