Herbal & Flower Teas
Roselle Chrysanthemum Tea (Luo Shen Hua Ju Hua Cha)
Traditionally cooling; supports tired eyes and healthy blood pressure
Why people make this tea
Bro Niu picked up a jar of dried roselle — 60 g holds dozens of flowers, enough to brew many cups. Steeped, it turns a bright ruby red with a tangy, fragrant taste. In summer a cup is wonderfully thirst-quenching and traditionally “cools the heart and clears heat.” Roselle is rich in polyphenols and is associated with supporting healthy blood pressure, blood lipids and cholesterol, plus easing eye fatigue — handy for anyone who stares at a screen all day.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- People who work long hours at a computer with tired eyes, and those looking to support healthy blood pressure.
- Pleasant and mild — suitable for young and old.
- Not recommended during pregnancy.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Roselle (luo shen hua): Rich in polyphenols; traditionally cooling and thirst-quenching, associated with supporting healthy blood pressure, blood lipids and cholesterol, and easing eye fatigue.
- Chrysanthemum (ju hua): Traditionally clears “wind-heat” of the upper body and is associated with clearing the liver and brightening the eyes; tai ju buds add a sweet, honeyed fragrance.
- Honey: Softens the tartness and rounds out the flavour.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dried roselle (luo shen hua) | 5–6 flowers | |
| Chrysanthemum (ju hua) | 1 tbsp | Tai ju, hang ju or white chrysanthemum all work |
| Honey | to taste |
Method
- Put the roselle and chrysanthemum into a pot.
- Rinse once with boiling water, then discard that water.
- Pour in fresh boiling water and steep, covered, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in honey. The leaves can be re-steeped several more times.
Bro Niu’s tips
This time tai ju (chrysanthemum buds) were used; hang ju or white chrysanthemum work just as well. The tea is fragrant and pleasant for all ages — but it is not suitable for pregnant women.
Community questions answered (selected)
- Q (Yan): My mother is 60, takes blood-pressure medication and has high cholesterol — can she drink this? She also sleeps poorly and is a bit weak. Bro Niu: She can drink this tea. For sleep, schisandra (wu wei zi) has been used in recent years for insomnia and nervous exhaustion — steep 1 tbsp schisandra with 10 longan (yuan rou) as a tea, drink about 2 hours before bed, for a week.
Published June 5, 2023 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
