Three-Flower Tea (Rose, Chrysanthemum and Silk Tree Flower)

Why people make this tea

Life in a busy city can grind you down: tight deadlines, difficult relationships, the sense that there’s never quite enough air in the room. In traditional Chinese medicine, that pattern of pent-up stress — sighing a lot, feeling tightness in the chest or ribs, difficulty sleeping, a generally low mood — is associated with what practitioners call “liver qi stagnation.” This light, fragrant tea blends three flowers traditionally used to ease that pattern: rose for emotional movement, chrysanthemum for clearing heat and settling the mind, and silk tree flower buds for calming the spirit and easing insomnia. A cup after dinner is a gentle daily ritual that many people find genuinely settling.

Who it suits / who should be cautious

• Suitable for most adults experiencing everyday stress, emotional tension, or mild sleep difficulty
• Also suitable for people with three highs (blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol) — omit honey if diabetic; stevia leaf can be added as a natural sweetener that does not raise blood sugar
• Pregnant women should avoid flower teas, as they may stimulate uterine contractions
• Postpartum mothers who are not pregnant may drink rose tea — pair it with longan flesh for a nourishing combination

Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)

• Rose buds (mei gui hua): In traditional Chinese food therapy, rose is associated with moving qi, relieving emotional stagnation, and gently lifting mood without being stimulating.
• Chrysanthemum (ju hua): Used to clear liver heat — in traditional theory, emotional stress can generate internal heat, and chrysanthemum cools and settles the liver-related organ system.
• Silk tree flower buds (he huan hua lei): Named “the flower that brings happiness,” silk tree flower buds are traditionally associated with calming the spirit, reducing anxiety, and supporting restful sleep.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and is traditionally considered soothing and nourishing.

Ingredients (1 teapot / 1–2 cups)

Ingredient	Amount	Notes
Dried rose buds	3 qian (~11 g)
Dried chrysanthemum flowers	2 qian (~7 g)
Silk tree flower buds (he huan hua lei)	2 qian (~7 g)
Honey	to taste	Omit if diabetic; use stevia leaf instead
Hot water	enough to steep	Just off the boil

Method

1. Place all three flowers into a teapot or heatproof cup.
2. First pour in a small amount of hot water, swirl briefly, and pour it away — this rinse clears any dust.
3. Pour in fresh hot water to cover the flowers.
4. Steep for about 5 minutes with the lid on.
5. Pour into cups, stir in honey to taste, and drink while warm.
6. The flowers can be re-steeped 2–3 times until the flavour fades.

Bro Niu’s tips

This tea is gently fragrant — not overwhelming — and most people find it genuinely calming. It can be enjoyed daily. If you have diabetes or blood sugar concerns, simply leave out the honey and add a few leaves of stevia (tian ju ye), which adds sweetness without raising blood sugar. Diabetics and people with the three highs can enjoy this tea without worry. Pregnant women should give it a miss.

Community questions answered (selected)

• Q (yan, 82 years old, three highs): I have liver and gallbladder issues. Can I drink this tea? Bro Niu: Yes, you can drink this tea. If you have diabetes, skip the honey and add a few stevia leaves instead — stevia does not raise blood sugar, and the tea is fine for the three highs.

• Q (reader with low mood and digestive discomfort): I often feel short of breath, my stomach feels empty, and I have a slight urge to vomit. What can I drink? Bro Niu: This sounds like liver qi affecting the stomach. Try steeping rose flowers, bergamot (fo shou), and osmanthus — one tablespoon each — as a tea. Drink it regularly to soothe liver qi and settle the stomach.

• Q (Angela): I am postpartum. Can I drink rose flower tea? Bro Niu: Yes, postpartum mothers can drink rose flower tea — pair it with longan flesh to nourish the blood and complexion.

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Published October 5, 2020 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 3 min read.