flipGoji and Chrysanthemum Tea (枸杞菊花茶)
Goji and Chrysanthemum Tea (枸杞菊花茶)
Why this dish? The favorite drink of anyone spending days under spotlights: chrysanthemum "cools" and "clears the vision" according to 中医, goji nourishes and brightens the complexion. A beauty-health infusion entirely in the spirit of the care Fan Bingbing gave to her diet.
A clear, golden infusion with dried chrysanthemum flowers and red goji berries floating in it. Light floral bitterness softened by the sweetness of the berries.
The dressing rooms are overheated, the hours drag on, and dry air damages skin as much as voice. So I always have, next to the mirror, a tall glass where chrysanthemum flowers and a few gojis dance. You pour water just below boiling, never boiling, otherwise the flowers turn bitter. You watch the glass clear, you breathe, and you know your eyes will be bright under the light. It's my little silent luxury between takes.
- •Dried chrysanthemum flowers (菊花) — a pinch (floral, "clears the vision")
- •Dried goji berries — about ten (sweetness, tonic)
- •Simmering water — a tall glass (infusion)
- •Rock sugar (optional) — a chip (sweetness)
Goji and Chrysanthemum Tea (枸杞菊花茶)
A clear, golden infusion with dried chrysanthemum flowers and red goji berries floating in it. Light floral bitterness softened by the sweetness of the berries.
Why this dish? The favorite drink of anyone spending days under spotlights: chrysanthemum "cools" and "clears the vision" according to 中医, goji nourishes and brightens the complexion. A beauty-health infusion entirely in the spirit of the care Fan Bingbing gave to her diet.
The dressing rooms are overheated, the hours drag on, and dry air damages skin as much as voice. So I always have, next to the mirror, a tall glass where chrysanthemum flowers and a few gojis dance. You pour water just below boiling, never boiling, otherwise the flowers turn bitter. You watch the glass clear, you breathe, and you know your eyes will be bright under the light. It's my little silent luxury between takes.
Ingredients (period version)
- Dried chrysanthemum flowers (菊花) — a pinch (floral, "clears the vision")
- Dried goji berries — about ten (sweetness, tonic)
- Simmering water — a tall glass (infusion)
- Rock sugar (optional) — a chip (sweetness)
Ingredients
- Dried chrysanthemum flowers (Asian grocery) — 5–6 flowers (floral)
- Dried goji berries — 1 tbsp (sweetness, tonic)
- Hot water (~85°C) — 300 ml (infusion)
- Rock sugar or honey (optional) — to taste (sweetness)
Method
- Quickly rinse the chrysanthemum flowers and goji berries in cold water.
- Place them in a glass or transparent teapot.
- Pour hot but not boiling water (around 85°C) to avoid making the flowers bitter.
- Let steep for 3–5 minutes: the liquid turns pale gold, the gojis plump up.
- Sweeten very lightly if desired, and drink warm. It can be re-steeped a second time.
How it was made : "Life maintenance" infusions (养生) are ancient in China, combining flowers, berries, and plants according to 中医 dietetics. Chrysanthemum has been cultivated and drunk since Chinese antiquity; it was kept dried to infuse all year round.
The contemporary twist : Serve in a double-walled glass to see the flowers open and the gojis rise and fall — a mini-show perfect for a story.
Fan Bingbing · Charactorium
