Chrysanthemum Tea | Nam Gek Huey | น้ําเก๊กฮวย

Incredibly refreshing with natural cooling properties, this iced chrysanthemum tea is the perfect drink for relaxing on hot summer days.

This chilled chrysanthemum tea is one of the most refreshing drinks I've had the pleasure of tasting.  It's got a sweet, mellow floral flavor that works wonders to quench your thirst and keep you cool.

When my Thai husband 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 that help to cool you down.  This supposedly also works when the drink is served warm, in which case it can help to soothe a fever or tame a sore throat.

I don't know about the scientific evidence to support these claims, but I can tell you that this chilled chrysanthemum tea is one of the first drinks I reach for when it's hot outside.  It also pairs exceptionally well with a bowl of fiery green curry or plate of spicy chicken with holy basil!

What does Chrysanthemum Tea taste like?

Chrysanthemum tea has a very pleasant, mild, floral flavor. It is made by steeping dried yellow chrysanthemum flowers of the species C. morifolium in hot water. The longer it steeps, the more pronounced the flavor and color will be. In Thailand, the tea is often served quite concentrated, with plenty of sugar to offset the natural bitterness.

Ingredients

• Water: The flowers are steeped in hot water to make this chrysanthemum tea drink.
• Dried Chrysanthemum Flowers: Once steeped in hot water, these dried flowers release their pleasant floral flavor and aroma. The longer the flowers are steeped, the stronger the flavor and color of the tea will be.
• Sugar: In Thailand, this chilled chrysanthemum tea is served quite sweet. The sweetness makes the drink that much more inviting and refreshing. Feel free to adjust the sugar to your preferred sweetness level.
• Ice: While chrysanthemum tea can be served warm or chilled, it is often served chilled in Thailand due to the country's warm climate. Once the tea has cooled, it should be poured over crushed ice to make an incredibly refreshing drink.

Instructions

Rinse the dried chrysanthemum flowers to remove any excess debris.

Bring water to a boil, remove from the heat, and add the chrysanthemum flowers. Allow the flowers to steep in the water until the drink is bright yellow in color.

Pour the chrysanthemum drink through a strainer to remove the flowers. Add sugar and stir to dissolve while the drink is warm.

Chill the chrysanthemum drink for several hours. Once it is cold, pour into a glass filled with crushed ice and enjoy!

Storage

Because this chrysanthemum tea drink is made with natural plant material, it should be refrigerated once it has been brewed. In the refrigerator, this tea can stay fresh for many days.

If you're looking for an incredibly refreshing drink, this Thai version of chrysanthemum tea is for you. It's sweet and cold and has a really pleasant floral flavor. It's the first drink I reach for on hot summer days!