Dandelion and Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

Dried dandelion is widely available at Chinese herb shops and online, and it is one of those unassuming ingredients that quietly delivers. Although dandelion paired with honeysuckle flower (jin yin hua) is the classic formula for more acute inflammation, for everyday wellness use dandelion with chrysanthemum is the gentler and more enjoyable choice. Chrysanthemum has a long tradition of supporting eye health and calming liver heat — that slightly scratchy feeling behind the eyes after a long day at the screen, or the sense that the liver is “overworked” and running hot. Together, these two flowers make a tea that is light, slightly floral and easy to make at home for a very modest cost.

Method

1. Place both herbs in a teapot or heatproof vessel.
2. Pour boiling water over them, then immediately discard this first rinse (this washes the herbs).
3. Pour in fresh boiling water and steep for 5 minutes.
4. Pour and drink. The tea can be re-steeped with fresh hot water until the flavour is exhausted.

Nourilo’s Tips

The dried dandelion sold in Chinese herb shops is typically made from the leaves — the same leaves you might see growing as garden weeds. Both the leaf and the root carry beneficial properties, and the whole plant (dried) is what Chinese herb shops stock. If you are lucky enough to have fresh dandelion growing in your garden and it has not been sprayed with pesticides, you can use it fresh: simply simmer fresh dandelion with chrysanthemum for 5 to 7 minutes rather than just steeping, to draw out the flavour and beneficial compounds properly.