Do you often brew flower tea in your daily life? It is common to see female colleagues in the office brewing flower tea in a health pot, often brewing a large pot that lasts the whole day. When asked, ‘What is brewed inside? What are the benefits?’, the response is usually ‘I don’t know’ or ‘It’s a random mix.’ However, did you know? As mentioned in ‘Bencao Biandu’, ‘All flowers disperse’. Most flower teas have a pungent taste and are dispersing in nature, rather than replenishing Qi.
Flower medicines have a fragrant aroma; a strong fragrance can disperse, release energy, and if your body’s ‘Qi and blood’ cannot balance its dispersing power, it can easily harm your health. Indeed, for those with stagnated Qi, occasionally drinking flower tea is beneficial for both mind and body. But without understanding one’s constitution, long-term, large-scale consumption without attention to matching can easily deplete the body’s vital Qi, leading to increasing weakness and deteriorating complexion! For example, do you know the taboos of these flower teas?Rose Tea: Long-term consumption can deplete Qi and fluids, people with constipation or Yin deficiency and excessive fire should avoid it. Those prone to heatiness may develop acne from long-term consumption;
Chrysanthemum Tea: It is cool in nature, not suitable for those with Qi deficiency and cold stomach, poor digestion, or during colds; Jasmine Tea: Long-term consumption may damage the stomach and intestines, easily causing endocrine disorders, and those with weak constitutions should avoid it; Lemon Tea: It has a strong acidity that can corrode tooth enamel, and consuming on an empty stomach can lead to excessive stomach acid; Tangerine Peel Tea: Long-term consumption may cause dry mouth, Qi deficiency, and stomach fire. Those with dry coughs should avoid it; Cassia Seed Tea: Long-term consumption can lead to diarrhea, and those with spleen deficiency and hypotension should not use it excessively; Goji Berry Tea: It is not suitable for those with colds, fever, or inflammation. People with a hot constitution can pair it with cool ingredients like chrysanthemum to neutralize it. Introducing the health benefits and combinations of six common flower teas to better utilize flower tea for health preservation. 01 Rose Flower Rose flowers have the effects of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, nourishing blood and calming the mind. However, they disperse Qi, so people with Qi deficiency who really want to drink it can appropriately mix it with a bit of Astragalus. Combination reference: Promoting Qi and blood circulation: Rose + Hawthorn + Brown sugar Regulating menstruation and relieving depression: Rose + Rose Flower + Regulating qi and resolving phlegm: Rose + Tangerine Peel + Hawthorn 02 Chrysanthemum Chrysanthemums have the effects of clearing heat and detoxifying, nourishing the liver and improving vision. However, they are cool in nature and not suitable for long-term consumption. It is more appropriate to consume them properly matched and while warm. Combination reference: Nourishing liver and improving vision: Chrysanthemum + Goji Berry + Cooked Rehmannia Fluid production and fire reduction: Chrysanthemum + Ophiopogon + Rehmannia Clearing liver and moistening the lung: Chrysanthemum + Goji Berry + Luo Han Guo Beauty and skin care: Chrysanthemum + Goji Berry + American Ginseng 03 Honeysuckle Honeysuckle has the effects of releasing the exterior and dispersing wind, clearing heat and detoxifying. However, it is cold in nature and also not suitable for long-term consumption. It can be appropriately consumed during wind-heat colds to help alleviate cold symptoms.**Lonicera japonica Tea**
Matching References:
– Clearing lung heat and moistening lung dryness: Lonicera japonica + honey – Clearing liver, lung and stomach fire: Lonicera japonica + chrysanthemum
– Soothing the throat: Lonicera japonica + momordica grosvenori
**Jasmine Tea**
Jasmine has the effects of regulating qi, relieving depression, dispelling foulness and harmonizing the middle. However, it is not suitable to drink tea before going to bed or after taking medicine. People who are weak and frequently ill should also avoid it.
Matching References:
– Clearing the liver and detoxifying: Jasmine + rose + mulberry
– Relieving stress: Jasmine + young chrysanthemum + wolfberry
– Moistening the throat after staying up late: Jasmine + Sydney pear
**Osmanthus Tea**
Osmanthus has the effects of warming the stomach, dispelling cold and removing dampness. But it is warm in nature, so people with stomach heat are not suitable for it.
Matching Suggestions:
– Tonifying qi and nourishing blood: Osmanthus + longan + red date
– Promoting digestion and enhancing appetite: Osmanthus + hawthorn + codonopsis
– Removing greasiness and clearing the intestines: Osmanthus + oolong
**Roselle Tea**
Roselle tea has the effects of regulating endocrine and beautifying the skin. However, it is cold in nature, so the amount should be controlled.
Matching References:
– Nourishing yin and moistening dryness: Roselle + pear + honey
– Nourishing hair: Roselle + mulberry + black wolfberry
– Promoting digestion: Roselle + hawthorn + tangerine peel
Once again, when using flower tea for health preservation, be sure to note that it is not advisable to drink too much, and choose according to your personal constitution and needs.
Drinking it about 3 times a week is almost enough, and the number of varieties in the combination should preferably not exceed 3. If you feel unwell, stop drinking immediately.
