Goji and chrysanthemum tea

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About this tea
Origin and tradition
TCM properties of the ingredients
Health benefits
Ingredients
Method
Variations and pairings
When to drink it
Cautions and contraindications
Frequently asked questions
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1. About this tea

Goji and chrysanthemum tea — gou qi ju hua cha in Mandarin — is one of the most widely drunk Chinese herbal infusions, a daily tonic in countless homes and a staple of Chinese tea houses. The bright orange-red goji berries float against the pale yellow or white chrysanthemum flowers, producing a beautifully visual cup with a faintly sweet, slightly floral, mildly grassy flavour and no caffeine. It is particularly associated with eye health, headaches related to screen use, the early changes of menopause, and any pattern of Liver and Kidney yin deficiency.

The pairing is a classical Chinese herbal pair (dui yao): goji nourishes Liver and Kidney yin and blood, while chrysanthemum gently clears Liver heat and benefits the eyes. The two work as a balanced complementary pair — goji is sweet and slightly warming, chrysanthemum is bitter and cooling, and together they nourish without congesting and clear without depleting. This is exactly the kind of gentle, balanced action favoured for daily long-term use.

2. Origin and tradition

Both goji berries and chrysanthemum flowers are recorded in the Shennong Bencao Jing (Divine Farmer's Classic of Materia Medica, c. 200 BCE) — the foundational text of Chinese materia medica — in the highest "superior" category of substances that are safe for long-term use to nourish life. Goji has been cultivated in the Ningxia region of north-central China for over 600 years, and the chrysanthemums most prized for medicinal tea (Hangzhou Bai Ju Hua — white chrysanthemum from Hangzhou) come from a specific cultivar grown around the city of Hangzhou. The tea pairing is recorded in classical formularies as the basis of formulas such as Qi Ju Di Huang Wan (Lycium Chrysanthemum Rehmannia Pill), one of the most widely prescribed Chinese patent medicines for Liver-Kidney yin deficiency presenting with eye symptoms.

3. TCM properties of the ingredients

Goji berry (gou qi zi)

Thermal nature: Neutral
Flavour: Sweet
Channels entered: Liver, Kidney, Lung
Actions: Tonifies Liver and Kidney yin; nourishes blood; benefits the essence; brightens the eyes; moistens the Lung

Chrysanthemum flower (ju hua)

Thermal nature: Slightly cool
Flavour: Sweet, slightly bitter, pungent
Channels entered: Liver, Lung
Actions: Clears wind-heat; clears Liver heat; calms Liver yang; benefits the eyes; clears toxins

The pairing creates a balanced action: tonifying without being heating, cooling without being depleting. White chrysanthemum (bai ju hua) is the variety most often used — it is gentler and more focused on benefitting the eyes. Yellow chrysanthemum (huang ju hua) is more strongly bitter and cooling and is preferred when there is more pronounced Liver heat.

4. Health benefits

Tired, dry, blurry eyes

Both goji and chrysanthemum have a strong traditional association with eye health, mediated in TCM through their action on the Liver (which "opens to the eyes" in TCM physiology). Modern research has confirmed that goji berries are exceptionally rich in zeaxanthin and lutein — the two carotenoids that concentrate in the macula of the human eye and protect against age-related macular degeneration. Daily goji intake has been shown to raise serum zeaxanthin and reduce hypopigmentation in the macula. Chrysanthemum contributes flavonoids and lutein-related carotenoids with anti-inflammatory effects on the ocular surface.

Screen-related eye strain and headaches

Long hours at a screen produce dry, tired, scratchy eyes and tension headaches centred around the temples and forehead — a pattern matching Liver-yin deficiency with rising Liver yang in TCM. Goji-chrysanthemum is the traditional kitchen remedy. A cup mid-morning and mid-afternoon, slowly sipped, supports the Liver yin and gently descends the rising Liver yang that produces headaches.

Early menopausal changes

The early stages of perimenopause and menopause — mild hot flushes, dryness, irritability, sleep disturbance — reflect the depletion of Kidney yin in TCM. Goji's deep yin-nourishing action makes it one of the most useful daily teas for women in their 40s and 50s. The tea is gentle enough to drink daily for years.

Mild high blood pressure

Chrysanthemum has a long traditional use for headaches and dizziness from rising Liver yang — a pattern that often accompanies essential hypertension. Modern research supports a mild blood-pressure-lowering effect, attributable to chrysanthemum's flavonoid content and mild diuretic action. Daily consumption can be a useful adjunct (not replacement) to conventional treatment.

Immune and antioxidant support

Goji berries are one of the highest-ORAC (antioxidant capacity) fruits known, and contain a unique class of polysaccharides (Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, LBP) with documented immune-modulating effects. Daily goji intake has been linked in clinical trials to improved subjective wellbeing, sleep, energy and antioxidant status.

5. Ingredients

1 tbsp dried goji berries (gou qi zi) — about 10g
1 tbsp dried chrysanthemum flowers (ju hua) — about 8–10 flowers
300ml hot water at 85°C (not boiling — full boil bitters chrysanthemum)
Optional: 1 jujube (red date) for added Spleen qi support and natural sweetness
Optional: 1 tsp honey or rock sugar to taste (after the tea cools slightly if using honey)

Quality matters. Choose plump, dark-red unsulphured goji berries (sulphur dioxide-treated berries are bright orange-red and chemically harsh). Chrysanthemum should be dried buds with petals largely intact — avoid badly browned or dusty flowers. Both keep well for 12 months in an airtight container away from light.

6. Method

Place goji berries and chrysanthemum in a glass teapot or large lidded mug. Glass is traditional — the colour of the infusion is part of the pleasure.
Boil fresh water and let it stand for 1–2 minutes to drop to about 85°C.
Pour the hot water over the herbs.
Cover and steep for 5–10 minutes. The longer you steep, the stronger the flavour and the deeper the action.
Drink slowly, eating the softened goji berries as you go — they are part of the medicine.
The same flowers and berries can be re-infused 2–3 times across the day, each infusion slightly weaker than the last.

7. Variations and pairings

Plus jujube (red date): add 1–2 pitted jujube for additional Spleen qi support. Particularly useful if you also feel tired or run-down.
Plus mulberry (sang shen): add 1 tbsp dried mulberries for stronger Liver yin and blood support.
Plus longan (long yan rou): add 4–5 dried longan for warming, blood-tonifying support — particularly in winter or for women with anaemia.
Plus rose bud (mei gui hua): add 4–5 dried rose buds for additional Liver-qi-moving action; useful for premenstrual tension.
Iced version (summer only): brew strong, cool to room temperature, serve over ice. Reserve for hot weather only — iced is not recommended in autumn or winter or for cold constitutions.

8. When to drink it

Daily for tired, dry, irritated eyes, particularly with prolonged screen use
Tension headaches centred around the temples or behind the eyes
Early menopausal symptoms: mild hot flushes, irritability, dryness
Long-term Liver-Kidney yin tonic for adults over 40
After heavy alcohol, late nights, or intense stress (Liver-supportive recovery)
Office workers, students and computer-heavy roles — particularly during long shifts
As a caffeine-free afternoon alternative to coffee or tea

Best timed mid-morning and mid-afternoon. Avoid drinking in the evening only because it will make you visit the toilet during the night (mild diuretic effect of chrysanthemum). Suitable to drink for years.

9. Cautions and contraindications

Diarrhoea or loose stools: chrysanthemum is cooling and may aggravate cold-pattern diarrhoea. Pause until the digestive symptoms have settled.
Acute cold or flu with chills: avoid the cooling chrysanthemum during a cold-pattern infection (chills, runny nose, body aches). Switch to ginger tea instead.
Yang-deficient constitutions: use only modest amounts (1 cup per day or less). Pair with red date or ginger to balance the cooling effect.
Anticoagulants: goji has mild blood-thinning effects and can interact with warfarin. Discuss with your prescriber if taking anticoagulant medication.
Pregnancy: small amounts are generally fine; avoid large quantities of chrysanthemum without practitioner guidance.
Sulphur sensitivity: some imported goji is sulphur-treated. Choose unsulphured products if you have sulphite sensitivity.

10. Frequently asked questions

Can I drink it every day?

Yes. Goji-chrysanthemum is one of the most safely-used long-term Chinese teas. Recorded in the highest "nourish life" category of the Shennong Bencao Jing — substances safe for daily long-term use. 1–3 cups daily is appropriate.

Does it contain caffeine?

No. Both goji and chrysanthemum are caffeine-free, making this an excellent alternative for people who avoid caffeine in the afternoon or evening.

Should I eat the goji berries or strain them out?

Eat them. The carotenoids and polysaccharides in goji are not all extracted into the water; the rehydrated berries are part of the therapy.

White chrysanthemum or yellow?

White chrysanthemum (Hangzhou bai ju hua) is the gentler choice and the one most used for daily eye-tonic tea. Yellow chrysanthemum is more strongly bitter and cooling, used when there is more pronounced Liver heat (red eyes, irritability, headaches).

Where can I buy good-quality goji and chrysanthemum?

Chinese herbal pharmacies, larger Asian supermarkets, and specialist tea retailers carry both. Look for unsulphured goji (darker red, not bright orange) and chrysanthemum buds with intact petals and a faint sweet floral aroma.