Chrysanthemum flower tea is well known in many Asian countries and has been around for thousands of years. Chrysanthemum flowers that are used to make this powerful tea come in a number of varieties, but traditionally, the scientific name of this beneficial plant is Chrysanthemum indicum. Chrysanthemum tea is different from other teas, as it's made by infusing hot water with full flowers, which release a wide variety of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, organic compounds, amino acids, and soothing chemicals into the mixture, making for a both delicious and highly nutritious beverage.
The tea’s color is pale to bright yellow, depending on the strength of the tea and how long you’ve steeped the flowers. To prepare the tea, the flowers are steeped in hot water, often with honey or sugar cane. Often when the pot is empty more hot water is added up to several times, hence changing the strength and brightness of the tea. It has many medicinal and healing properties. Chrysanthemum flower tea has many health benefits as you will see below.
Tea is often associated with relaxing and unwinding, so it's no wonder that chrysanthemum tea has helped to lower blood pressure, cool the body, and reduce inflammation, in turn, induce calmness. The powerful minerals antioxidants present in the tea can help your body better regulate itself and eliminate unnecessary stress hormones in the blood. The tea is also beneficial for heart health, as it has the ability to lower bot blood pressure (this is due to the potassium in the tea) and cholesterol levels. Some reports state that chrysanthemum tea can be a long-term preventative measure for a variety of cardiovascular issues, such as heart attacks and strokes, and atherosclerosis.
The tea also contains a significant amount of beta-carotene which breaks down into vitamin A which serves different purposes in the body. Vitamin A acts much like an antioxidant and eliminates oxidative stress and damaged cells in organ systems around the body, including the skin. It is often seen and used in topical form, since it can clear up many skin irritations, redness, and chronic conditions, including eczema and psoriasis. It can also reduce the signs of aging, reducing wrinkles and blemishes, thanks to the high antioxidant content.
It's a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, chrysanthemum tea aids in reducing swelling in the throat and reducing irritation in the lungs. The tea helps to protect the body from infection and inflammation in a number of ways, which makes it perfect to drink as the onset of any illness. Both vitamin A (as mentioned) and vitamin C are both found in high quantities in the chrysanthemum tea, both of which are known to be critical for immune system health. You can find many beneficial minerals in chrysanthemum tea as well, including calcium, potassium, and magnesium all of which are also necessary for a healthy immune system. Due to the high level of beta-carotene, and vitamin A in chrysanthemum there are many benefits to the eyes and vision. It is said that it helps protect against retinal neuropathy, cataracts, macular degeneration and other eye health issues. There are also many different types of vitamin B found in the flower, some of these include choline, riboflavin, folic acid, and niacin. Each of these are essential and necessary for normal body function.
Caution: Some people may experience allergic symptoms when exposed to chrysanthemum tea, particularly if they are allergic to ragweed or daisies. The symptoms are usually mild, but if you do experience any, be sure to stop drinking the tea.