Herbal & Flower Teas
Hawthorn and Chrysanthemum Tea
Traditionally used to support circulation and help manage uric acid
Why people make this tea
A gout attack often strikes at night, out of nowhere — a single joint, often the big toe, suddenly throbbing so badly it wakes you up. It can peak within a couple of days and then ease off just as mysteriously. Bro Niu always says: when this kind of thing happens, see a doctor and get checked early. As a daily companion, this simple steeped tea is a folk recipe favoured by people managing gout alongside heart concerns — traditionally associated with moving qi, breaking up stagnation, supporting circulation, and helping lower uric acid.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People managing gout, especially with heart concerns, who want an easy everyday tea
- A new, severely swollen, painful joint is not something to self-treat — get it checked
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Hawthorn (shan zha): traditionally used to move qi, ease food stagnation, and support circulation.
- Chrysanthemum (ju hua): traditionally associated with clearing heat and soothing.
- Green tea (lu cha): the unfermented leaf, traditionally used to help with stagnation; both green and lightly fermented (oolong-type) teas work.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hawthorn (shan zha) | 1 liang (~37 g) | |
| Chrysanthemum flowers (ju hua) | 2 qian (~7 g) | Tai chrysanthemum, hang ju, or gong ju all work |
| Green tea leaves (lu cha) | 1 small pinch |
Method
- Put the hawthorn, chrysanthemum, and green tea into a teapot.
- Rinse once with boiling water and pour it off.
- Pour in fresh boiling water and steep for about 7 minutes.
- Drink; you can keep re-steeping until it runs pale.
Bro Niu’s tips
This tea can be drunk daily and is traditionally associated with supporting healthy blood pressure and blood lipids.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Anita): My mum is 80, has gout and an irregular heartbeat. Is this tea suitable for her? Thank you. Bro Niu: This tea is suitable for your mother.
- Q (meow): Which teas count as “green tea”? Bro Niu: Unfermented teas (green tea) include Longjing, Biluochun, Meicha, and Zhuya; semi-fermented teas include oolong, Tieguanyin, Shuixian, and Shoumei. Either type works.
- Q (sandy): I heard white-fleshed papaya steeped with green tea can help prevent gout. Is that workable, and how does it compare with this hawthorn-chrysanthemum tea? Bro Niu: Green papaya stewed with green tea is a folk remedy for gout with a fair reputation; you would take it for about 15 doses.
Published October 3, 2010 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
