Honeysuckle Chrysanthemum Hawthorn Tea

Why people make this tea

Middle-age weight gain is something many people struggle with, and in traditional Chinese food therapy it is often seen as a sign of sluggish metabolic circulation. Nourilo reaches for three simple, widely available ingredients — honeysuckle flower, white chrysanthemum, and hawthorn — because together they form a light, slightly tart tea that is easy to sip daily. The logic is straightforward: hawthorn has a long folk history of helping the body process fatty foods, chrysanthemum cools and clarifies, and honeysuckle is prized for its clearing properties. Think of it as a gentle daily tonic for anyone trying to keep their heart and waistline in good shape.

Method

1. Combine all three ingredients in a teapot or heatproof mug.
2. Pour in a small amount of freshly boiled water, swirl briefly, then discard — this rinse cleans the herbs and releases a bit of the aroma.
3. Pour in freshly boiled water (a full cup or enough to fill your vessel).
4. Cover and steep for about 5 minutes.
5. Drink warm. The tea can be re-steeped 2–3 times, adding boiling water each time, until the flavor becomes very faint.

Nourilo’s Tips

• Drink one batch (two cups) per day, split between two sittings. If you have no stomach-acid issues, drink before meals; otherwise drink after eating.
• If your constitution tends cold or you find the tea slightly cooling, try removing the honeysuckle and using just chrysanthemum and hawthorn — the blend becomes much gentler. You can also add a slice of dried tangerine peel (chen pi) to warm things up.
• For 4–5 people, scale each ingredient to roughly 4 g per person, and simmer in 1.8 L of water for about 10 minutes to yield 1.5 L.
• Buy honeysuckle from a flower-tea or specialty grocery shop in individually packaged bags when possible; bulk pharmacy-stored flowers can pick up other herb aromas and taste unpleasant.