Summer Refreshment Beyond Tea
Tea is certainly not the only beverage enjoyed in China during the hottest days of summer. Traditional Chinese dietetics makes use of a wide variety of plants that have been associated with the summer season for centuries and are regarded as naturally cooling in their thermal nature. Some are prepared on their own as herbal infusions, while others have long been combined with green or white tea to create delicate summer blends.
Chrysanthemum 菊花 (Jú Huā)
Chrysanthemum flowers are among the best-known summer beverages in the Chinese tradition. According to traditional Chinese dietetics, they possess a distinctly cooling thermal nature and have been enjoyed for centuries either as a simple floral infusion or blended with green tea. The infusion has a pale golden colour, a delicate floral fragrance, and a gently sweet flavour with a clean, refreshing character.
Chrysanthemum pairs beautifully with teas such as Long Jing, Huang Shan Mao Feng, and delicate white teas, adding elegant floral notes without overpowering their own natural flavour.
Honeysuckle 金银花 (Jīn Yín Huā)
Honeysuckle flowers are another symbol of the Chinese summer. In traditional Chinese dietetics, they are likewise regarded as distinctly cooling and are often prepared as a simple herbal infusion during the hottest days of the year. Their flavour is delicate, gently herbal, and pleasantly refreshing.
In some parts of China, honeysuckle is also blended with lightly processed green teas, although it is more commonly enjoyed on its own. It has been one of the classic summer beverages of everyday life for countless generations.
Mint 薄荷 (Bò He)
Mint is well known in Europe, yet its role in the Chinese tradition is even broader. According to traditional Chinese dietetics, it helps disperse summer heat and brings a pleasant feeling of freshness. Unlike strongly flavoured mint syrups, however, it is best appreciated as a simple herbal infusion or as a delicate addition to a high-quality green tea.
Just a few fresh leaves added to the finished infusion are enough. Mint enhances the tea's natural freshness without overwhelming its character, creating a light summer drink that requires no added sweeteners.
Whether you choose green tea, chrysanthemum flowers, honeysuckle, or mint, all of these plants share the same philosophy. The goal is not to shock the body with icy temperatures, but to offer natural refreshment and restore harmony. This is why, in the Chinese tradition, summer beverages are often enjoyed only slightly chilled—or even warm. Their thermal nature is considered far more important than their actual serving temperature.
