Chrysanthemum

Identity

Common Name

Chrysanthemum

Scientific Name

Chrysanthemum morifolium

Botanical Family

Asteraceae

Native Region

East Asia

Cultivation Regions

China, Japan, Korea, Europe

Plant Parts Used

Flowers

Synonyms

Ju Hua, Florists' Chrysanthemum, Mum

Caffeine Level

Caffeine Free

A branching perennial 30-100 cm tall with deeply lobed grey-green leaves and large showy flower heads of many layered white-to-pale-yellow ray florets around a soft yellow center; the flowers are the part used.

Historical Background

Chrysanthemum has been a beloved flower and cooling tea in China since the Han dynasty, symbolizing autumn, longevity, and scholarly refinement. Brewed pale yellow, it is the classic Chinese summer cooling tea, often enjoyed with goji berries or rock sugar, and steeped in glass to admire the unfolding blooms.

Earliest recorded uses: Used in China since the Han dynasty; recorded in the Shennong Ben Cao Jing; a classic cooling summer tea.

Traditional Uses

These uses document historical traditions and do not imply proven effectiveness.

Flavor & Aroma

Aroma: Floral, honeyed, slightly herbal, cool

Tea Information

Research Summary

Chrysanthemum has a long tradition as a cooling, eye-soothing, and liver-clearing tea. Clinical evidence is limited; preclinical work shows antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, but it is not a treatment for eye disease, fever, or any condition.

Evidence levels reflect the currently available scientific literature and may change as new research emerges. Where evidence is limited or conflicting, this is stated plainly.

References & Sources