Back in London before I left to seek a (temporary) new life in Hong Kong as a fashion stylist and blogger, I was given a pre-vacation curse a non-contagious cough which lasted almost a week, a lovely farewell present from my close circle of (blog) friends. Thanks girls!
I always fancied creating my own freshly picked or dried flower tea, Chrysanthemum tea 菊花茶 is one of my favourite summer ‘cooling’ herbal drinks which aides flu, acne, cough and sore throat, prefect for my saw dust throat. Need a cure for your dry cough? Please give this DIY a try, my terms and conditions – please do not sue me if this drink kills you, I do not accept liability and you have the option not to drink this.
Freshly bought from the Columbia Road Flower Market, turn the stalk upside down and gently tap to remove dirt and with a pair of scissors cut off the bloom stem/stalk at the base of the flower.
Drop the Chrysanthemum flower in a tea pot, pour in hot boiling water and leave to steep for 10-15 minutes. I normally steep twice to lessen the flower’s bitter taste.
After 10-15 minutes of steeping the resulting transparent water turns yellow in colour, pour the tea in a (pretty) cup.
Add a lump of sugar rock or a teaspoon of honey to add taste.
Drink and enjoy!
hi Kit,
and your blog, while searching on the net for more information about the chrysantemum. Would like to buy a chrysantemum flowerplant, but have some worries. Is any yellow chrysantemum edible (suitable for the chinese chrysantemum tea) ?
just discovered YOU
I am a Chinese girl, speak also hakka and living in Europe too…i see many similarities between us
Have a nice week,
Shan
@Vanessa Thank you for visiting my blog, Jen is the loveliest girl I’ve met. Re Chrysanthemum tea, best to steep them twice in hot water to kill of any nasties, and drink it whilst cooled.
Hey Kit – ever since being introduced to your blog via Style Crusader Jen, I am absolutely addicted! I hope you are having a wonderful time in Hong Kong and love reading your posts! Chrysanthemums are my favourite flowers (their abundance of petals are so fun to run your fingers through) and I adore drinking the cold chrysanthemum tea (the one that comes in the yellow juice-poppers) however I have actually never brewed it hot. I can’t wait to follow your instructions and give it a go as soon as I can get my hands on some fresh chrysanthemums.
Vanessa
@peebo Hey, I’m shoot in Canon 5DMK2 and Sigma 50mm 1.4
i just discovered your blog and i can’t even find words how beautiful it is.
The lighting in your photographs is stunning, what camera and lense are you using? Do you edit your photographs too?
Hello Kit Lee, welcome to HK I have sent you my email.
Enjoy your stay.
I love your blog your photos are magical. I wish to meet you one day and welcome to HK.
The photographs are great! And it’s so nice that you were able to make a non-store-bought tea for yourself.
So beautiful.
They taste great if chilled.
Incredible step by step photos I love I love I love it! Please do more of these.
Totally worth waiting for, the tea looks so delicious!
Gorgeous post Kit! I love it when you do posts about food/drinks you make at home – the photography is always so beautiful. Incredible that you made the tea yourself from a flower you bought. Have never done anything like that but would love to give it a try! xx