So, can overnight chrysanthemum tea be consumed? Let's examine expert opinions below.
Can overnight chrysanthemum tea be consumed?
Ancient texts describe chrysanthemum as sweet and bitter with a slightly cold nature. It disperses wind and clears heat, clears the liver and brightens vision, and detoxifies and reduces inflammation. It effectively treats dry mouth, excessive heat, eye dryness, and limb pain or numbness caused by wind, cold, or dampness.It primarily treats wind-heat colds and headaches. It also prevents and alleviates dizziness, headaches, and tinnitus.
Can overnight chrysanthemum tea be consumed? Experts advise against it. Left overnight, most vitamins are lost, and proteins and sugars in the brew become nutrients for bacteria and mold growth. However, unspoiled overnight tea has its own medicinal uses.Overnight tea contains abundant tannic acid, which can prevent capillary bleeding. It can be used to treat conditions like stomatitis, tongue pain, eczema, bleeding gums, and sores or abscesses.
Many believe overnight tea is undrinkable, with various claims circulating—some alarmist, like the unsubstantiated claim that drinking it causes cancer.While overnight chrysanthemum tea is not suitable for drinking, it has other remarkable uses:
1. Hemostasis: Rich in acetic acid, overnight tea can stop capillary bleeding. For conditions like stomatitis, eczema, or bleeding gums, gargling with overnight tea can provide relief. It can also be used for bathing to treat skin ulcers or bleeding.Improving Vision: The tea polyphenols in overnight tea possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. If redness appears in the eyes, washing them several times daily with overnight tea yields excellent results.
3. Relieving Itching: Washing hair or wiping the body with warm overnight tea allows the fluoride in the tea to quickly relieve itching and prevent eczema.
4. Promoting Hair Growth: Washing hair with overnight tea also promotes hair growth and eliminates dandruff.For sparse eyebrows, brush them daily with a brush dipped in overnight tea. After a period, eyebrows will become thicker and shinier.
5. Freshen Breath: Tea contains aromatic essential oils. Holding a few mouthfuls of overnight tea before or after brushing teeth in the morning, or after meals, can freshen breath. Regularly rinsing with tea eliminates bad breath.
6. Sunburn relief: For sunburned skin, gently wipe with a towel soaked in overnight tea. Tannic acid has a skin-soothing effect, and the flavonoids in tea also offer anti-radiation properties.
7. Removing fishy odors and grease: Overnight tea also eliminates fishy smells and grease. Washing hands with it after eating shrimp or crab leaves them feeling refreshingly clean.
While overnight tea isn't suitable for drinking, don't discard it—it still serves many purposes. The key lies in utilizing it wisely to avoid waste. Of course, to prevent unnecessary waste, it's best to consume tea on the day it's brewed, ensuring chrysanthemum tea truly nurtures your health.
Chrysanthemums are prone to mold and pests, so how should chrysanthemum tea be stored? Let's explore the storage methods below.
Storage Methods for Chrysanthemum Tea
1. Avoid exposure to light. Sunlight can cause discoloration and deterioration of chrysanthemum tea, so store it in light-proof containers.
2. Prevent aroma loss. Store in separate portions and take only what you need. Storing large quantities together and frequently opening the container allows the fragrance to evaporate and the tea to lose its flavor. Moisture from the air can also enter, causing the tea to become damp and spoil.
4. Keep away from heat sources. Even tea stored in airtight containers should not be placed near stoves, boilers, or other sources of steam or heat, as this can cause steaming and moisture absorption, leading to spoilage.
5. Prevent odor absorption. Terpenes in tea leaves strongly absorb odors. Never store tea alongside scented items, as this causes rapid flavor alteration. Avoid storage in cabinets containing mothballs.