Chrysanthemum tea, a traditional Chinese beverage, is technically not a tea but a tisane, or liquid made from flowers. Usually served with the chrysanthemum blooms floating on the surface, chrysanthemum tea is valued not only for its medicinal properties but for its delicate, floral flavor and visual appeal. It is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat a myriad of illnesses, including fever and sore throat. According to Wellness.com, pregnant women should avoid chrysanthemum tea; clinical studies regarding its safety are lacking. You can resolve to try this enticing tea at a later date.
Features
Chrysanthemum tea, also known as ju hua cha, can be made from several different varieties of the flowering perennial garden plant, including Chrysanthemum morifolium, C. sinense and C. indicum. Food writer and cooking instructor Diana Kuan notes that chrysanthemum tea is traditionally made only with flowers in various shades of white or yellow. It is considered to have cooling effects; Kuan recommends the tea as a tonic to help alleviate discomfort after overindulging in heavy foods or alcohol. In addition to being employed against fever and sore throats, chrysanthemum tea is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat high blood pressure, angina and sinus congestion.
Constituents and Effects
Chrysanthemum tea contains assorted alkaloids, glycosides and sesquiterpenes. Beneficial flavonoids, including cosmosin, diosmetin and apigenin, are also present, as are choline and camphor. Chrysanthemum tea also contains thiamine and antioxidant vitamin A.
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reports that chrysanthemum tea has anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-cancer and anti-pyretic, or fever-lowering, properties, as well as the ability to increase blood flow to the heart. Laboratory research has supported the ability of chrysanthemum's constituents to combat cancer cells. In a study published in 2009 in the "Journal of Asian Natural Products Research," researchers evaluated chrysanthemum flavonoids for cytotoxic activity against human colon cancer cells. They found that two of them -- luteolin and diosmetin -- showed significant cytotoxic effects.
Contraindications
It is not only pregnant women who should avoid chrysanthemum tea. Wellness. com advises that allergic reactions to chrysanthemum are common. Don't drink chrysanthemum tea if you are allergic to any members of the aster family, including dandelion, goldenrod, ragweed, chamomile, sunflowers, mugwort and daisies. Symptoms may include asthma, skin rash, eczema, photosensitivity, inflammation of the sinuses and hives. Even if you are not allergic, avoid large or chronic doses of the tea; chrysanthemums contain natural toxins called pyrethrins. Don't use chrysanthemum tea if you have compromised liver function, epilepsy or asthma; use it with caution if you have cancer or HIV or are taking medications for a compromised immune system, diabetes, herpes or gout. Consult your doctor before drinking chrysanthemum tea.
Usage and Considerations
To make chrysanthemum tea, place a dried flower in 8 oz. of boiling water and allow it to steep for 3 to 5 minutes. According to Tea Guidebook, one flower can make from one to three cups. If you prefer stronger tea, use more flowers; it may take some trial and error to steep the tea to the strength you prefer. Serve in clear teacups to showcase the blossoms. Kuan recommends serving chrysanthemum tea with a dish of bingtang, or rock sugar, on the side. You can find dried chrysanthemums at natural foods stores and Asian markets.
References
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Chrysanthemum
- Wellness: Chrysanthemum
- Appetite for China; Chrysanthemum Tea; Diana Kuan; March 2008
- Tea Guidebook: Chrysanthemum Tea
- "Journal of Asian Natural Products Research"; Cytotoxic Activity of Flavonoids from the Flowers of Chrysanthemum Morifolium on Human Colon Cancer Colon 205 Cells
