Herbal Teas
Crown Daisy and Rock Sugar Drink
Crown Daisy and Rock Sugar Drink is a classic folk medicinal dietary recipe documented in texts such as Food Chinese Medicine and Folk Prescriptions. Crown daisy, known as the "emperor's vegetable" in ancient times, has a pungent, sweet, and cool nature. Li Shizhen summarized in the Compendium of Materia Medica that it can "calm the mind, nourish the spleen and stomach, dissolve phlegm, and benefit the intestines and stomach". When boiled with rock sugar, the drink has a clear green color, a sweet and refreshing taste, with the unique aromatic scent of crown daisy. It is known for its effects of clearing the heart, nourishing the stomach, soothing the throat, resolving phlegm, and moistening the lungs to relieve coughs. It is especially suitable for those with phlegm-heat coughs and throat discomfort as a daily wellness drink. Ready in just 10-15 minutes – simple and convenient.
Main Ingredients
- Fresh crown daisy (garland chrysanthemum / tonghao) 300g
- Rock sugar 20g
- Water 500ml
Steps
Remove the fibrous roots and tough stems from the fresh crown daisy. Rinse thoroughly under running water to remove sand and dirt. Cut into small sections
Place the prepared crown daisy in a clay pot or stainless steel pot (avoid iron pots). Add approximately 300-500ml of water, enough to cover the crown daisy. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes until the crown daisy softens and the liquid turns a dark green color.
Strain through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth, discarding the solids and reserving the liquid.
Add the rock sugar (about 10-15g) to the strained liquid and stir until completely dissolved.
Consume warm, divided into 1-2 servings. Best taken after meals, 1-2 times daily, for 2-3 days.
TCM Notes
Crown daisy (garland chrysanthemum) : Sweet, pungent, and cool in nature, acts on the Spleen and Stomach meridians. Rich in various amino acids, including four essential ones: lysine, leucine, threonine, and phenylalanine – its amino acid content ranks among the highest in vegetables. Its volatile oils help regulate qi, promote digestion, and stimulate appetite. In TCM, it is known to harmonize the spleen and stomach, dissolve phlegm, and calm the mind. It is effective for phlegm-heat coughs, restlessness, poor appetite, and spleen-stomach disharmony. Rock sugar: Neutral in nature and sweet in taste, acts on the Spleen and Lung meridians. It tonifies the middle, harmonizes the stomach, moistens the lungs, and resolves phlegm. When combined with crown daisy, it moderates the herb's coolness while enhancing its lung-moistening and cough-relieving effects. Together, they achieve the effects of clearing the lungs, resolving phlegm, moistening dryness, relieving coughs, harmonizing the stomach, and calming the mind. This drink is very low in calories and rich in vitamins and amino acids – a natural, moistening wellness beverage.
Suitable for：Those with wind-heat colds, coughs with thick phlegm：Symptoms include cough with thick yellow sticky phlegm and sore throat Those with phlegm-heat congestion in the lungs：Recurrent cough with thick yellow phlegm that is difficult to expectorate Those with lung dryness, lung heat, or dry throat：Dry itchy throat, difficulty breathing Those with spleen-stomach disharmony or poor appetite Those with restlessness or poor sleep Those with hypertension-related dizziness or headaches (as adjunct therapy)
Not suitable for：Those with wind-cold coughs: Symptoms include thin white phlegm, clear nasal discharge, and chills – strictly avoid Those with Spleen-Stomach deficiency cold or loose stools: Crown daisy promotes qi flow and digestion; excessive consumption may worsen diarrhea Those with strong kidney qi or excessive ministerial fire: The Bencao Fengyuan notes that crown daisy "has turbid qi and can aggravate ministerial fire" – such individuals should not overconsume Those with thyroid disorders: Crown daisy contains relatively high iodine and should be consumed with caution Those allergic to crown daisy
