Can Gardenia Flowers Be Used to Make Tea?
The pure white and fragrant Gardenia flowers are not only excellent for courtyard display but also a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. With the popularity of health preservation concepts, more and more people are paying attention to the feasibility of making tea with Gardenia flowers. This article will take you through the production process to the health benefits, giving you a comprehensive understanding of this edible health-promoting flower.
Complete Process of Making Gardenia Flower Tea
Selection and Preprocessing of Materials
Select flower buds with dew in the early morning that have not fully bloomed or fresh flowers that have not opened for more than 24 hours. After lightly sweeping the surface dust with a soft bristle brush, keep the intact flower crown and cut off the green calyx and brown peduncle.
Processing Techniques
Spread the petals flat on a bamboo sieve to dry naturally in the shade or use 50°C low-temperature baking for 6-8 hours. Traditional techniques involve stacking the flower crowns to form a unique fan-shaped tea cake shape, and brew 3-5 grams with 85°C warm water for 5 minutes when steeping.
Four Major Health Benefits of Gardenia Flower Tea
1. Promotes Digestive System Health
The Gardenoside component can stimulate the secretion of pepsin, improving functional dyspepsia. Clinical trials show that continuous consumption for two weeks can increase the efficiency of gastrointestinal motility by 27%.
2. Respiratory Protection
The contained saffron pigment has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, with a suppression rate of 68.3% for (F-Y) streptococcus, making it especially suitable for daily regulation in patients with chronic bronchitis.
3. Heat Clearing and Calming Properties
The iridoid substances in Gardenia flowers can regulate the hypothalamic body temperature center, significantly improving menopausal hot flashes and anxiety-induced insomnia.
4. Liver and Gallbladder System Regulation
The combined action of Gardenia yellow pigment and ursolic acid can reduce the level of serum bilirubin, with a repair rate of up to 41.6% for alcoholic liver injury.
Analysis of Drinking Precautions
The recommended daily intake should not exceed 500ml, and the continuous drinking cycle should be controlled within 2 weeks. Those with a deficiency of the spleen and stomach should pair it with 3 slices of ginger to balance the cold nature. Pregnant women and women during their period are advised to stop drinking. Special populations should consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner before drinking.
As a typical example of food and medicine being the same, Gardenia flower tea has both ornamental value and health benefits. Mastering the correct production method and drinking norms can truly make this white flower a guardian of health. It is recommended to drink it scientifically under the guidance of professionals, considering individual physical conditions.