Herbal & Flower Teas
Tender Mulberry Bud and Chrysanthemum Tea
Traditionally used to clear heat and brighten the eyes
Why people make this tea
Tender mulberry buds are the young shoots of the mulberry leaf — brewed on their own they’re wonderfully fragrant, and paired with chrysanthemum they make a tea traditionally associated with clearing heat and brightening the eyes. It’s a soothing everyday cup for sore eyes after a cold, red threads in the whites, or itchiness.
Who it suits / who should be cautious
- Suits those wanting a light, cooling daily tea, especially for tired, sore, red or itchy eyes after a cold.
- It is a cooling tea, so go gently if you run cold or have a delicate stomach.
- If eye discomfort is severe or doesn’t settle, please see a doctor.
Why these ingredients (the food-therapy logic)
- Tender mulberry buds (nen sang ya): the young shoots of the mulberry leaf, very fragrant in tea; traditionally associated with clearing heat and supporting the eyes. Regular mulberry leaf (sang ye) can substitute, though the buds are far more fragrant.
- Chrysanthemum (ju hua): traditionally used to clear heat and brighten the eyes; hang ju, tai ju, gong ju or chamomile all work.
Ingredients (1 pot)
| Ingredient | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tender mulberry buds (nen sang ya) | 1 tablespoon | Or fresh mulberry leaf, 7–8 leaves |
| Chrysanthemum (ju hua) | 3 qian (~9 g) | Hang ju, tai ju, gong ju or chamomile |
Method
- Put the tender mulberry buds and chrysanthemum into a teapot.
- Rinse once with boiling water and discard that first rinse.
- Pour in fresh boiling water, cover, and steep for 5 minutes. Ready to drink.
Bro Niu’s tips
Tender mulberry buds are available at Chinese-medicine shops or online. If you can’t find the buds, use ordinary mulberry leaf instead — but the buds are far more fragrant. If you grow a mulberry tree at home, fresh young leaves work well too (about 7–8 leaves); fresh leaves are even more effective.
Community questions answered (selected)
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Q (Ms. Zeng): I grow a mulberry tree at home — can I brew the tea with fresh young leaves? Is the effect the same? Bro Niu: Yes, you can use fresh mulberry leaf, about 7–8 leaves. The fresh ones are even more effective.
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Q (Yin-ling): I have no chrysanthemum — is honeysuckle (yin hua) okay? Do I need to rinse once first? And can you suggest more eye-brightening flower teas? Bro Niu: Honeysuckle clears heat and resolves toxins well; just rinse once with boiling water, no need to wash. For brightening the eyes, chamomile, marigold (jin zhan ju), hang ju and gong ju are good — adding goji berries makes it better still. Dendrobium (shi hu) is also good for the eyes and can be simmered with goji berries.
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Q (Becky): My two-and-a-half-year-old has some red, swollen, itchy puffiness around the eyes and often wakes at night — can he drink this flower tea? Bro Niu: Your son can drink this tea. You can also wrap the warm tea ingredients in a small cloth and, while still warm, press it gently over the under-eye area to help cool and soothe.
Published March 19, 2011 · Adapted and translated for Nourilo from a traditional home-kitchen recipe. Approx. 2 min read.
