What Is Chrysanthemum Tea?

Chrysanthemum flowers are a popular addition to many backyard gardens and front porch flower containers, but did you know this flower can also be used as an herbal tea? Chrysanthemum tea has been consumed in Asia for hundreds of years.

Chrysanthemum tea is a light translucent yellow tea made by steeping the dried flowers of the Chrysanthemum plant in boiling water. Chrysanthemum tea is associated with a wide range of health benefits such as improved immune response, reduced inflammation, and lowered blood pressure.

Chrysanthemums are an easy flower to grow at home, so this is a tea that you can make fresh in your kitchen whenever you like. Read on to learn more about the origins of chrysanthemum tea and how you can make it at home.

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What Kind of Tea is Chrysanthemum?

Chrysanthemum tea is made from the white or yellow flowers of the plant species C. morifolium.

Chrysanthemum tea is a type of tea known as a tisane, which is just plant matter like leaves, stems, and flowers steeped in hot water until an herbal infusion is created. Herbal teas like chrysanthemum differ from traditional black or green tea because they don’t contain caffeine. Chrysanthemum also offers different health benefits than tea from tea leaves.

Where Does Chrysanthemum Tea Come From?

Chrysanthemum tea comes from China, where it is traditionally consumed as a popular summertime tea. Chrysanthemum tea is also consumed in other Southeastern Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Singapore.

Drinking chrysanthemum tea is believed to have a cooling effect on the body during warm months of the year. It’s also believed to provide a variety of health benefits.

What Does Chrysanthemum Tea Taste Like?

Unlike other floral teas such as jasmine and chamomile, chrysanthemum tea has a mild floral flavor with an almost buttery aftertaste. Chrysanthemum tea may also contain flavor notes of honey and grass.

Is Chrysanthemum Tea the Same as Chamomile Tea?

Chrysanthemum tea is similar to chamomile tea in some regards, but it isn’t the same thing. Here are the main differences and similarities between these two types of floral teas:

Chrysanthemum and chamomile are different plant species. While chamomile and chrysanthemum belong to the same botanical family, these flowers come from different plants and have different botanical properties.
Chrysanthemum tea tastes different from chamomile tea. Chamomile tea has a lightly perfumed, floral flavor, while chrysanthemum is more savory.
Chrysanthemums and chamomile flowers can both be grown at home. Mums and chamomile are popular garden flowers that can be easily cultivated even by beginners in horticulture. This makes them both great floral additions for your tea garden.
Chrysanthemum and chamomile tea is made from flowers. While the leaves of chamomile can also be brewed into tea, the flowers of these plants are much more popular for tea blends. Many floral teas feature tightly balled flower blossoms that “bloom” when exposed to boiling water.

If you’re trying to stock up on some herbal tea varieties good for general health and alleviating common illness symptoms such as cold and flu, chrysanthemum and chamomile are both useful teas to keep around.

How to Make Chrysanthemum Tea

To make a cup of chrysanthemum tea, simply steep 1 teaspoon dried chrysanthemum blossoms in 8 ounces of boiling water for 3-4 minutes before straining the tea and serving it. If you prefer your tea sweetened, try adding some honey or rock sugar.

Health Benefits of Chrysanthemum Tea

Even though many people find chrysanthemum tea delicious, the main reason that most tea drinkers are attracted to chrysanthemum tea is because it’s associated with several major health benefits. Chrysanthemum has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine since the Song dynasty.

Here are some of the advantages of drinking chrysanthemum tea regularly:

Respiratory problems: Chrysanthemum tea has been used for hundreds of years to treat respiratory troubles. It’s an especially popular herbal cure for common mild respiratory illnesses such as cold, flu, sinus infection, and mild bronchitis.
Reduced blood pressure and body inflammation: Chrysanthemum tea is traditionally consumed to lower blood pressure. While more study is needed, it is used to prevent cardiovascular issues such as stroke and heart attack. Chrysanthemum is also associated with reducing inflammation, another trigger for cardiovascular disease.
Essential vitamins and nutrients: Chrysanthemum provides plenty of essential nutrients needed by the human body to thrive, such as potassium, iron, and Vitamin C.
Mental relaxation: Since it was first used by the ancient Chinese, chrysanthemum tea has been consumed as a way to steady the nerves and induce calm. This quality makes chrysanthemum tea a pleasant evening drink, especially since it doesn’t have caffeine that may disrupt sleep patterns.

Chrysanthemum blossoms are subtle enough that they can be added into other tea blends, which make them a great addition to your tea routine whether you drink it plain or mix dried chrysanthemums into a floral tea blend. The health benefits of consuming it regularly make it worth adding to your tea caddy.

Chrysanthemum Tea Is An Ancient Cure

Even though the medicinal benefits of chrysanthemums aren’t widely researched in Western medicine, this tea has been used as an herbal cure for hundreds of years. Try brewing a cup for yourself to stave off your next winter cold or relax on a summer afternoon. Chrysanthemum tea is versatile enough for any tea session.