Chrysanthemum tea is in every Chinese restaurant in KL, usually paired with dim sum, drunk cooling for the body. Behind a bar, the dried chrysanthemum flower delivers a floral character that sits between elderflower and honey, and unlike either, it is dirt-cheap and locally available at every Chinese herbalist.

What chrysanthemum tea is

Dried chrysanthemum flowers (juhua, 菊花), usually a white or yellow variety, brewed in hot water. The tea is faintly sweet, gently floral, slightly bitter on the finish. In traditional Chinese medicine it is considered "cooling", drunk in hot weather, when feeling overheated, or to balance "heaty" foods.

For cocktail use, the dried flowers are inexpensive and store forever. RM 8-15 per 100g packet at any Chinese sundry shop or herbalist.

How to use it

Tea infusion: 5g dried flowers in 200ml of hot water (not boiling, around 85°C), steep 5 minutes, strain. Boiling water makes it bitter; warm water keeps the floral notes clean.

Cold brew: 8g flowers in 400ml cold water, refrigerate 6-8 hours, strain. Lighter than hot-brewed; better for shaken cocktails.

Chrysanthemum syrup: strong tea (8g in 200ml hot water, 5 minutes, strain), combine 1:1 with sugar, simmer briefly, cool. Bottle. Lasts 2-3 weeks refrigerated.

Chrysanthemum-honey syrup (recommended): swap sugar for honey in the above. The honey + chrysanthemum combination is one of the most-natural Asian flavour pairings.

Three drinks built on chrysanthemum

1. Chrysanthemum Bee's Knees. Gin (50ml), chrysanthemum-honey syrup (15ml), fresh lemon juice (20ml). Shake hard. Double-strain. Floral, soft, easy.

2. Chrysanthemum Spritz. Cold-brewed chrysanthemum tea (60ml), elderflower liqueur (15ml), top with prosecco. Build in a wine glass over ice. The Asian-Italian floral spritz.

3. Chrysanthemum Sake Cooler. Sake (60ml), cold-brewed chrysanthemum (30ml), fresh lemon (10ml), 5ml chrysanthemum-honey syrup. Shake briefly. Strain over fresh ice. The Asian floral version of a sake highball.

What does not work

Chrysanthemum + smoke. Mezcal kills it. Same as chamomile, keep delicate florals away from smoky spirits.

Chrysanthemum + heavy spice. Cardamom, cinnamon, clove dominate. Use chrysanthemum with light citrus or other florals.

Over-steeping. More than 8 minutes and chrysanthemum turns medicinal-bitter. Stop at 5-6 minutes.

Sourcing in Malaysia

Dried chrysanthemum flowers: every Chinese herbalist, sundry shop, and major supermarket Asian section. RM 8-15 per 100g. The "Hangzhou white chrysanthemum" (杭白菊) and "snow chrysanthemum" (雪菊) are the most cocktail-friendly varieties. Avoid the bright yellow "field chrysanthemum" which is more bitter.

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Frequently asked questions

What does chrysanthemum tea taste like in a cocktail?

Faintly sweet, gently floral, slightly bitter on the finish. Profile sits between elderflower and honey, with a soft cooling character. Used carefully it adds floral lift without medicinal weight; over-steeped it turns bitter and herbal. The Hangzhou white chrysanthemum and snow chrysanthemum varieties are the most cocktail-friendly; avoid the bright yellow field chrysanthemum, which is bitterer.

How do I brew chrysanthemum tea for cocktails?

Use water at 85 degrees Celsius (not boiling) and 5g of dried flowers in 200ml for 5 minutes, then strain. Boiling water makes it bitter. For shaken cocktails, cold-brew 8g in 400ml cold water for 6 to 8 hours; cleaner and lighter. For a syrup, brew strong tea then combine 1:1 with sugar or, better, honey. Chrysanthemum-honey syrup keeps two to three weeks refrigerated.

What's the best chrysanthemum cocktail to try first?

The Chrysanthemum Bee's Knees. 50ml gin, 15ml chrysanthemum-honey syrup, 20ml fresh lemon, shaken hard and double-strained. Floral, soft, easy. For a longer drink, the Chrysanthemum Spritz pairs cold-brewed tea with elderflower liqueur topped with prosecco. For something with body, a Chrysanthemum Sake Cooler.

Can I substitute chamomile for chrysanthemum?

They overlap but are not interchangeable. Chamomile is honey-apple-straw; chrysanthemum is honey-floral-cooling with a slight bitter finish. Chamomile works better in nightcap formats; chrysanthemum suits lighter, longer summer drinks. If you only have chamomile, use it in a chrysanthemum recipe and accept a softer, more honeyed result; the structure still works.

Where do I buy chrysanthemum flowers in Malaysia?

Every Chinese herbalist, sundry shop, and major supermarket Asian section in KL or PJ carries dried chrysanthemum at RM 8 to 15 per 100g. Hangzhou white chrysanthemum and snow chrysanthemum are the cocktail-grade varieties. Stocks well; the dried flowers keep indefinitely in an airtight jar away from light.