Cassia Seed, Lotus Leaf and Chrysanthemum Tea

Why people make this tea

Nourilo served this tea at a food-therapy talk he gave at an office — and the three-ingredient blend was an immediate hit with everyone in the room. It is easy to understand why: the formula is elegant in its simplicity, the preparation takes minutes, and the combined effect of cassia seed, lotus leaf, and chrysanthemum flower has a long, well-regarded place in Cantonese food-therapy tradition for supporting people who are concerned about the so-called “three highs” — high blood pressure, high blood fats (including cholesterol), and high blood sugar.

The “three highs” are perhaps the defining health challenge of the modern urban lifestyle, and while food alone cannot replace medication or medical monitoring where those are needed, incorporating a daily wellness tea like this one is a pleasant and practical step. With regular use, this tea is associated with helping the body shed excess dietary fats, reducing the workload on the liver, and gently supporting healthy vascular tone.

Method

1. Place the cassia seeds in a dry pan (no oil) over medium heat. Stir and toast for about 5 minutes until fragrant and slightly darker. Do not burn them.
2. Add the chrysanthemum flowers to the pan and continue toasting for a further 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
3. Transfer the toasted cassia and chrysanthemum, together with the crushed lotus leaf, into a teapot or heatproof vessel.
4. Pour in freshly boiled water and steep for 7–8 minutes.
5. Pour and drink while warm. The same leaves can be re-steeped 1–2 times until the flavour fades.

Nourilo’s Tips

This tea is very easy to prepare in batches. Nourilo suggests buying a larger quantity of each ingredient, toasting them all together in a dry pan, letting them cool, and storing the blend in tea-bag sachets for convenient daily use. Pregnant women should not drink this or any herbal tea. For those with glaucoma, cassia seed brewed with chrysanthemum is a traditional remedy that may provide some support — but glaucoma is a serious eye condition and must be treated by an ophthalmologist; please see a doctor.