This chilled chrysanthemum drink is one of the most refreshing Thai beverages I've had. It's got a sweet, floral flavor that works wonders to quench your thirst and keep you cool.
When the boyfriend first introduced me to this drink, he told me that chrysanthemum flowers are supposed to have natural "cooling properties". When they're steeped in water to form a chilled drink, there are substances in the flowers themselves, in addition to the ice, that help to cool you down. This supposedly also works when the drink is served warm as a tea, in which case it can help to soothe a fever or tame a burning sore throat.
I don't know about the scientific evidence that might support this claim, but I can tell you that this chilled chrysanthemum drink is one of the first drinks I reach for when it's hot outside. It also pairs exceptionally well with a fiery bowl of green curry or plate of spicy chicken stir fried with holy basil!
Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups water
- 3 Tablespoons dried chrysanthemum flowers
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1 cup crushed ice
Instructions
- Rinse the dried chrysanthemum flowers to remove any excess debris.
- Bring the water to a gentle boil, remove from the heat, and then add the chrysanthemum flowers. Allow the flowers to steep in the water until the drink is bright yellow in color, anywhere from 10-30 minutes. This will result in a strong floral flavor. If you prefer a less pronounced flavor, steep for less time.
- Pour the chrysanthemum drink through a strainer to remove the flowers. Add sugar and stir to dissolve while the drink is still warm. Start with 2 Tablespoons, and add more as necessary. This drink is also good without sugar, although those served in Thailand are typically quite sweet.
- Chill the chrysanthemum drink for several hours. Once it is cold, pour into a glass filled with crushed ice, and enjoy.
Rachel
Hi Christine - Thanks for visiting my site! I'm so pleased to have my chrysanthemum drink post featured on Foodista!
Christine@Foodista
Hello Rachel,
We've selected you as our Foodista Drink Blog of the Day for this June 30, 2011! Your blog (regarding Chrysanthemum Drink) will be featured on the Foodista homepage for 24 hours. Besides posting your link on the homepage, we will also post a couple shout outs on our Twitter and Facebook pages.
Since you are now a part of the Foodista Featured Drink Blogger of The Day Community, we've created a special badge for you to display proudly on your blog sidebar. I couldn't find your email on your blog to send you the access code for the special badge, but I want to make sure you get it if you are interested. Please send me an email and I'll send it right away.
We are really enjoying your blog and look forward to seeing your recipes, tips and techniques on Foodista! If you would not like to be recognized on Foodista please let me know and I will remove your blog from our queue.
Cheers,
Christine @ Foodista