Summer Cooling Longan Date Tea (No Overheating)
Summer heat got you feeling drained? While traditional longan red date tea (桂圆红枣茶) works wonders during colder months, its warming nature can be too intense when temperatures soar. Enter this genius summer modification Longan, Red Date, Goji Berry, Mai Dong, and Chrysanthemum Tea (Summer-Specific Cooling & Nourishing Formula) 桂圓紅棗枸杞麥冬菊花茶 夏季改良版配方 (清涼不上火) - a cooling herbal blend that delivers all the blood-nourishing benefits without the internal heat.
- Prep time
- 5 min
- Cook time
- 20 min
- Yield
- 4 servings
- Difficulty
- MEDIUM
Ingredients
Quantities are shown as originally provided.
- 10 pieces Dried Longan 桂圆肉
- 8-10 large Red Dates 红枣, sliced and seeds removed
- 10g Goji Berries 枸杞
- 80g Ophiopogon Root 麦冬
- 3g Chrysanthemum Flowers (菊花)
- 1L Cold Filtered Water
- 5g Rock Sugar, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Soak the herbs for 20 minutes in a small bowl to remove traces of impurities. This will help remove dust and debris. Rinse and set aside in a small bowl.
- 2
In a herbal beverage tea maker or ceramic pot, combine cleaned longan, pitted red dates, goji berries, ophiopogon, and 5 cups of filtered water. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat, then immediately reduce to the gentlest possible simmer.
- 3
Cover partially and simmer for 20 minutes. The secret to authentic Chinese herbal tea is low, steady heat - this gentle extraction pulls therapeutic compounds without destroying delicate nutrients that harsh boiling would damage.
- 4
Add chrysanthemum flowers during the final 3 minutes only. Cover and let them steep in the hot liquid. This preserves their delicate, cooling properties and prevents them from becoming bitter.
- 5
Strain through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing gently on solids to extract remaining liquid.
- 6
Taste and adjust sweetness with rock sugar or honey if desired. Remember, the fruits are naturally sweet!
- 7
Enjoy warm, or let it cool to room temperature before refrigerating for a wonderfully refreshing iced herbal tea.