Chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea: A Simple Floral Tea Recipe

Pale golden tea, delicate flowers, and bright red berries make chrysanthemum and goji berry tea a lovely addition to an afternoon break.

This simple recipe combines the floral, gently herbaceous character of chrysanthemum with the mild fruit sweetness of red goji berries. You need just two ingredients, water, and a covered teapot.

Enjoy it plain for a delicate cup, or add a little honey if you prefer a sweeter finish.

Chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea Recipe

Servings: 2 small cups
Preparation: 2 minutes
Steeping: 5–7 minutes
Total time: About 10 minutes, plus time to boil water
Caffeine: Naturally caffeine-free when made with only the listed flowers and berries

Ingredients

• 2 g dried food-grade chrysanthemum buds or small flowers

• 8 g dried red goji berries

• 500 mL freshly boiled drinking water

• Optional: 1–2 teaspoons honey or sugar, to taste

This is a suggested culinary starting ratio. Follow your ingredients’ packaging if it specifies different preparation requirements.

Equipment

• A heat-safe teapot or covered brewing vessel with at least 600 mL capacity

• A fine-mesh strainer

• Two cups

• A small kitchen scale

Instructions

1. Prepare the ingredients. Measure the chrysanthemum and goji berries. Briefly rinse the berries under running drinking water and drain. Follow any cleaning instructions supplied with the flowers.

2. Combine. Place the flowers and berries in the clean teapot.

3. Add water. Pour 500 mL freshly boiled water over the ingredients and cover.

4. Steep. Leave for 5 minutes. Stir gently, then pour a small sample and let it cool before tasting. Continue steeping for up to 2 more minutes if you prefer a stronger infusion.

5. Strain. Pour through a strainer into two cups, removing the ingredients to stop further steeping.

6. Finish and serve. Taste before adding optional sweetener. Let the tea cool to a comfortable drinking temperature.

For one serving, halve the ingredients and use 250 mL water.

Choosing Your Chrysanthemum and Goji Berries

Chrysanthemum: Start With Small Buds

Small chrysanthemum buds are convenient for measuring and brewing. Our Tai Ju Chrysanthemum Bud Tea has a delicate floral character and produces a pale-yellow to golden infusion.

Large whole blossoms vary considerably in size, so avoid replacing a measured quantity of small buds with the same number of large flowers. Follow the directions for the specific flower format you choose.

You can compare buds and whole blossoms in our chrysanthemum collection.

Always use flowers sold for food or tea preparation. Florist chrysanthemums are not suitable substitutes.

Goji Berries: Choose the Red Variety

This recipe uses red goji berries, also known as gou qi zi (枸杞子).

Our whole dried red goji berries bring a mild, gently sweet fruit character to botanical infusions. During brewing, they absorb water and soften.

Check the ingredient list if you want an unsweetened preparation. This recipe is written for plain dried berries.

What Does Chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea Taste Like?

The flowers provide most of the aroma, while the berries add a subtle fruity background. Expect a light infusion rather than the richness of black tea or the intensity of fruit juice.

The sweetness is usually restrained. Dried berries may taste noticeably sweeter when eaten than the liquid tastes after a short infusion.

Your cup can vary with the chrysanthemum variety, ingredient quantities, and steeping time. Use the first brew to decide what you would like to adjust.

If your tea tastes…	Try this
Too floral	Reduce the chrysanthemum to 1–1.5 g next time
Too strong or slightly bitter	Strain promptly and dilute the brewed tea with a little hot water
Too mild	Use the full 7-minute steep, provided it fits the package directions
Not sweet enough	Add a small amount of honey or sugar after tasting
Too sweet	Omit sweetener and reduce the berries slightly in your next brew

Change one thing at a time so you can tell which adjustment you prefer.

Three Easy Variations

Rose, Chrysanthemum, and Goji Tea

Add one small food-grade dried rosebud to the pot before steeping, following its preparation guidance.

Rose adds another floral note, so keep the first addition modest. Explore our rose tea collection if you enjoy comparing floral aromas.

A Lightly Sweetened Version

Prepare the original recipe, then stir in a little honey or sugar after straining.

Sweeten the cups individually when sharing. One person may enjoy the plain infusion while another prefers a sweeter drink.

Iced Chrysanthemum and Goji Tea

Brew with hot water as directed, then strain. Cool the tea promptly in a suitable container placed in an ice-water bath, and refrigerate in a clean, covered container.

Serve over ice. For this small homemade batch, prepare it for the same day and keep it refrigerated until serving. Avoid leaving the flowers and berries soaking on the counter for hours.

Common Brewing Mistakes

Using Too Many Flowers

A generous handful can overwhelm the berries. Weighing the chrysanthemum gives you a more consistent starting point, especially when trying a new variety.

Leaving Everything in the Cup

Flowers and berries look attractive in glass, but continued steeping changes the flavour. Strain once the tea reaches the strength you enjoy.

For a single serving, an infuser mug makes it easier to lift out the ingredients.

Expecting a Strong Fruit Flavour

Goji berries add a gentle fruit note. Adding more and more flowers will strengthen the floral character without making the drink fruitier.

Storing Ingredients Beside the Kettle

Steam can introduce moisture into opened packages. Keep dried flowers and berries tightly sealed in a cool, dry cupboard, and use clean, dry utensils.

If you transfer them into tea canisters, retain their ingredient labels, preparation directions, and best-before information.

Ingredient Safety Notes

Goji berries can interact with warfarin; increased anticoagulant effects have been reported. If you take warfarin or another blood thinner, check with your pharmacist or clinician before trying this tea. Read Memorial Sloan Kettering’s goji berry guidance.

Chrysanthemum should be avoided by people with ragweed allergies and can interact with immunosuppressive medicines. Transplant recipients should avoid it unless their care team advises otherwise. See Memorial Sloan Kettering’s chrysanthemum guidance.

If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking other medicines, ask about the ingredients’ suitability. Enjoy this recipe as a beverage rather than a treatment for a health condition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does chrysanthemum and goji berry tea contain caffeine?

The basic recipe contains no caffeine. Adding green, white, black, oolong, or pu-erh tea introduces caffeine unless the added tea has been decaffeinated.

Can I eat the goji berries after brewing?

Yes, if they are food-grade berries suitable for eating and have been prepared according to their packaging. They will be softer and may have a milder flavour after steeping.

Do I need to boil the flowers in a saucepan?

This recipe uses a covered hot-water infusion. If your ingredient packaging requires simmering or another preparation method, follow those directions.

Can I make the tea without sweetener?

Yes. The optional honey or sugar can be left out entirely. Try the plain infusion first to appreciate the flowers and berries.

Can I use a large imperial chrysanthemum flower?

You can make a version with a large food-grade blossom, but use its product-specific serving and brewing instructions. Flower counts are not interchangeable between large blossoms and small buds.

A Simple Cup to Make Your Own

Start with a small pot, taste before sweetening, and adjust the next brew to your preferences.

Whether you share it over a conversation or enjoy it beside an open book, chrysanthemum and goji berry tea offers an easy way to explore floral ingredients at home.

Bring Eastern Living Home.