Sweet Chrysanthemum Tea (นํ้าเก็กฮวย)
Sweet Chrysanthemum Tea is one of the most popular herbal teas in Thailand. You can find it in most street stalls, restaurants, grocery and supermarkets. It can be served both hot and cold. However iced chrysanthemum tea is more common-- simply because in hot and humid country like Thailand, people love to have a something that helps cool down the body.
Sweet Chrysanthemum Tea is a really refreshing drink which loads with many health benefits. I love its soft sweet fragrance and mellowness. Moreover, having this drink during summertime also always bring back my childhood memory.
Sweet Chrysanthemum Tea was one of the drink that sold in my mom's grocery. I can remember how she prepared this tea. She would boil the water for few minutes, added in a good handful of dried chrysanthemum flowers and tons of sugar. Her sweet chrysanthemum tea was dark deep yellow and really sugary -- in those days (30 years ago) most Thais really enjoyed very sweet drinks, some of them tasted even more sweet than desserts.
I made the drink today using rock sugar instead of refined sugar. I love rock sugar and prefer the yellow variety. (Rock sugar keeps forever in the pantry or refrigerator. If you live in a damp and humid place, store rock sugar in the fridge.) The drink tasted sweet yet subtle. I hope you enjoy the drink as much as I did.
Below is my Sweet Chrysanthemum Tea (นํ้าเก็กฮวย) recipe.
Ingredients
2,000 cc. water
1/2 cup dried chrysanthemum flowers
75 grams rock sugar
Preparation 75 grams rock sugar
1. Bring water to the boil. Add in dried chrysanthemum flowers, simmer for 4-5 minutes.
2. When the water becomes yellow and fragrant, add in sugar.
3. When the sugar dissolves completely, remove from heat.
2 comments
I would love to try the tea. I'm afraid I won't be able to find chrysanthemum leaves at store. I love your photo, very stylish!
ReplyDelete@Nippon Nin
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind comment. You probably find dried chrysanthemum at China town. If you do, try this recipe out!