Human Flower Project

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Drinking Chrysanthemum

For the meek, the prejudiced and the overheated…

A cuppa chrys in Shanghai, 2005

Photo: No Such Thing as a Clear Blue Sky

Flower plans are being laid now for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and once more chrysanthemums are embroiled in controversy.

Roses and mums, both emblems of this city, have already been chosen as key flowers for the games, though “in recent years, a debate has arisen over the suitability of the Chrysanthemum as one of Beijing’s signature flowers due to its widespread use as a funeral flower in the West,” China Daily reports.

“Supporters of the flower argue that it received high praise in ancient Chinese literature and if you gave someone a single Chrysanthemum, it meant you viewed the person as honest. Even so, Chinese diplomatic officials now no longer consider a gift of a Chrysanthemum appropriate for visiting foreign guests.”

In our view, “foreign guests” everywhere should cede to the flower customs of the lands they visit, and if that rule can mean shedding chrysanthemum bigotry, all the better.

The chrysanthemum is not just enjoyed but honored and frequently imbibed in China and Taiwan. Ag scientists say of Chinese wines  “there are six different kinds…that are said to have healthful properties”; among them, chrysanthemum is considered beneficial for everyone, especially those who are a bit on the timid side:  “the chrysanthemum drink aims to increase brazenness” (but so will muscatel…).

Chrysanthemum in the can, a picker-upper

Photo: CT Food

Chrysanthemum tea is a favorite, too, both hot and cold. This blogger reports that, during a recent bout of illness, two friends delivered chrysanthemum tea to speed recovery. Which came first, the art or the medicine? In any case, chrysanthemum has a long literary history in China. Those who think flowers are girly (and who think that’s undesireable) should note that “rarely is the chrysanthemum compared with women – it is more often associated with independent, proud, noble, willful and tough men, such as Qu Yuan and Tao Yuanming.”

In a film called Chrysanthemum Tea (2000) the beverage begets love between a railroad worker and a teacher. “Brazenness”? Maybe it’s just anti-inhibitive and, on some, that looks brazen.

Lest this all sound esoteric, our correspondent Mesh Wu from Taipei writes otherwise. “In Taiwan, every (24-hour) convenience store sells this drink.” Instead of a Diet Dr. Pepper (doink), coulda had a Chrysanthemum tea! In Chinese medicine it’s considered cooling, just the thing for a sore throat or the end of a rancorous day.

For those who maintain a dislike for chrysanthemums (and who recognize that’s undesireable), we pass a cup and suggest working from the inside out.