Mum's the Word
When I was little, my cousins and I used to raid the fridge in the back room of my grandmother's house, stocked -- just for us -- with boxes of sweetened soy milk, cans of fizzy soda and drinkable cane sugar. We would grab our loot and before the adults could scold us, we would sprint out to the porch to ward off the blistering Sacramento heat with our ice-cold beverages.
These pleasant summer memories came rushing back during a trip to Malaysia. We had just eaten what felt like a years' worth of delicious food -- pungent spicy mutton stew, steaming homemade just-pinched dumplings, creamy fetid durian meat.
"Drink tea! Cool down," my friend Matthew said, beckoning us to the pot of liquid he had stirring on the table.
Chinese people believe that if you eat too many foods that are "yeet hay" (translated: "hot air") -- fried, spicy or rich foods that can cause pimples, mouth sores and nosebleeds – you must restore your body's balance with something "leurng" (cooling), like watermelon, grass jelly, or most commonly, Chrysanthemum tea, which is what Matthew had brewing in his pot.
I watched curiously as Matthew dropped a hunk of yellow rock sugar into the caramel-colored liquid and stirred in floating chunks of ice. Immediate recognition washed over my tongue as I sipped the sweet, refreshing tea.
Chrysanthemum tea, especially with honey (rather than sugar), is more than a simple thirst quencher. It is said to relieve fever and heatstroke, treat influenza, calm the liver, improve vision and hearing, clear headaches and dizziness, increase alertness, and combat high blood pressure.
My friend Camille also uses it when she's suffering from a sore throat. "I dry my throat first with green tea, and then I drink it with honey, so that it coats my throat," she says.
“The steam [from the tea] is good for your eyes,” another friend suggests. She’s heard that it can help get rid of sties. Chrysanthemum tea is also naturally caffeine free, and it tastes great hot or cold.
Try Chrysanthemum Tea:
99 Ranch Market stocks several brands of the tea in instant packets (around $4 or $5 a box) and as instant juice boxes. I conducted an informal taste test of Chrysanthemum tea amongst my friends here are our favorites:
1. Vitasoy Chrysanthemum Drink
“I’m kind of partial to the juice box.” – Kristina T.
“I like it; it’s sweet. It kind of leaves an aftertaste, but it’s a good one. It kind of tastes like candy.” – Meghan S.
2. Fortuna Instant Honeyed Chrysanthemum Drink
“It smells more like flower petals – floral with a touch of honey.” – Me
“This one has the strongest chrysanthemum taste. It even has a little menthol taste.” – Carolyn E.
3. Instant Chrysanthemum Beverage with Honey
“It’s sweeter [than #4]. You can really taste and smell the tea and honey. The chrysanthemum is really subtle.” – Kristina T.
“It’s almost a little gingery.” – Carolyn E.
4. Fragrant Chrysanthemum Tea with Honey
“This one is a little bland. But maybe we put too much water?” – Carolyn E.
“It’s not very sweet.” – Kristina T.
What childhood treat holds good memories for you?
-Lynnette
Sources: All ABout Chinese, Tea Spring, Sacred Lotus Arts, FitSugar, China 4 U 2
21 comments
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This post just brought back so much nostalgia! I buy those juice boxes all the time at the Asian supermarket. -
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I used to drink the one from the first pic so often when I was still in Hong Kong.
DIY Container
http://youtu.be/E6YJHoASEOk -
this stuff sounds amazing, i want to start branching out into different flavours of tea! lovely post, really well-written :)
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how ironic! i was just talking about being 'yeet hay' and 'leurng' to my friends yesterday!! i love to dring instant chrysanthemum when in yeet hay too!
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I love these teas!
My most memorable childhood snack is: Crepe
http://www.monicainheels.com/2012/11/so-much-food-so-little-time.html -
I have seen these before. I cant remember if I have tried it or not before. Its been a long since I lived at home
http://happychinadoll.blogspot.ca/2013/01/opi-oz-great-and-powerful-review.html
http://happychinadoll.blogspot.ca/2013/01/bath-body-works-cashmere-glow-review.html -
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my grandma always stocks chocolate milk for me and orange juice for my brother. Has been since we were little.
Now that I'm trying to lose weight, it's very unhelpful! Oh well. <3 -
I grew up in Philippines/Asia, every morning there are street vendors who carry big two tins, fresh silken tofu in one and caramel&sago/tapioca on the other, it's called TAHO -
Ooo, I LOVED the Vitasoy soy milk growing up :P Grass jelly from cans reminds of me childhood, too :] -
fever, headache, influenza...gosh I need this tea XD
I wonder if they have it at my local Asian food store, need to check!
good for eyes too..really need to try this!!! XD
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My blog is written both in English and Japanese
I write about fashion and food^^ latest entry is about homemade bento☆ -
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omg I used to drink the chrysanthemum tea drink in that pouch all the time when I was kid! That drink was the reason why I learned to spell chrysanthemum hahah -
I enjoy a few glasses of GREEN or White tea every day, it has helped improve my feeling of overall well being and it has given me more energy. Im going to go my local Asian market and see if I can find this tea you recommend! Thanks and I look forward to trying it!
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With my mom being caribbean, the treats I remember from every summer my grandma makes coconut,guava, and soursop/guanabana ice creams and pineapple and coconut tarts for me, my siblings and cousins. Its always yummy and refreshing on a hot summer day -
I never heard about this tea flavor, but will look for it now, it works for so many things it seems amazing!
Kisses
<3 Val
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