Chrysanthemum Tea

Chrysanthemum tea is simple a tea prepared with chrysanthemum flowers. While this isn’t as common in the Western world, it has been used in parts of East Asia for centuries. In traditional Eastern medicine, the chrysanthemum has a variety of uses. The flavor tea is unique, but enjoyable to many. The tea can be found packaged, served in restaurants, and easily made at home. Here are just a few of the many benefits of chrysanthemum tea.

Medicinal Value

Chrysanthemum tea has been used for many different reasons over the years. It has been used in Chinese medicine as a ‘cooling’ elixir. It is purported to lower a fever, prevent scratchy throats during cold and allergy season, and as a headache reliever. In other parts of the world chrysanthemum tea has been used as a caffeine substitute. It is known for its ability to create alertness. In some areas is it also used as part of a regimen to treat varicose veins.  It’s made in to a tea, consumed, then the chrysanthemum placed in a compress and applied directly to the affected area. One of the other uses of chrysanthemum tea is as a treatment for the eyes. It is purported to clear blurriness or spots in your line of vision. In Chinese medicine it is also used to help alleviate pain in the eyes and dizziness. It is also used to help ease the pain and discomfort associated with migraines. In the late 1970s a few clinical trials also pointed to positive results in lowering blood pressure in patients with hypertension.

Spiritual Uses for Chrysanthemum Tea

Chrysanthemum tea also has a long history of being used for spiritual purposes. In Eastern medicine it is used to balance the Yin. Those visiting a Chinese herbalist with issues surrounding anger, or other spiritual dis-ease that can be attributed to excess Yang may be prescribed chrysanthemum tea to help create balance. A bath tea, in which the chrysanthemum is placed in a tub of hot water with sea salt is said to help ease muscle cramps and wash negativity away. A lot of spiritual practitioners will use chrysanthemum diluted with water to spiritually cleanse an area as well. It’s not uncommon to find this tea being offered to new homeowners, or at rituals designed to cleanse a space.

Preparing the Tea

There are several methods to prepare chrysanthemum tea. The most popular method is to purchase a tea blend that included the dried flower in the mix. You can find blended versions with the dried flower ground in with another type of tea, most commonly green tea. This will create a milder flavor that isn’t so heavy on the floral taste. Dried chrysanthemum flowers can also be used without any other form of tea. This will create a light, pale tea with a sweet floral richness. The dried flowers can be ordered online from many herb and tea sellers. If you decide to purchase this locally be sure that it is tea quality. You want to avoid any dried chrysanthemums that have been dried or processed with chemicals. The less popular, but more rewarding method is to start your own mum garden. Mums of any color can be used for the tea. The advantage is you know exactly what you are putting on the garden, and you can cut the flowers and dry them at anytime.

To brew the tea you simply place a dried flower in boiling water. For 1 to 3 cups of tea a single flower will suffice. If you are making a larger pot, you may want to increase the number of flowers used. You can also grind the flower using a coffee grinder and use a tea ball or strainer. Many people prefer to use the blooming teas instead of the ground tea just because it creates a much prettier chrysanthemum tea presentation.