Cooling Summer Recipes

Cooling Summer Tea Chrysanthemum tea is the ultimate summer beverage because its cooling without impairing digestion. To make it, pour a cup of boiling water over a few fresh or dried chrysanthemum flowers (use large, yellow varieties) and steep until the tea cools to room temperature. Strain, add a little sweetener if desired, and drink 2-3 cups a day.  You can also make sun tea: put flowers and water in a jar and set them in the sun for 6 to 8 hours.

Summer Herbs Cereal

In the summer we tend to eat more raw food and drink more cold liquids. This can cause dampness in the body. When the body cannot rid itself of dampness, arthritis, digestive dysfunction, skin conditions, or lack of energy may result. Eat this cereal 2-3 times a week to prevent dampness and give you energy to enjoy these summer months.

½ cup lotus seeds (available at our Herb pharmacy

½ cup Job’s tears seeds

½ cup mung beans

1 small yam, skinned and cut into cubes

Soak lotus seeds in water in the refrigerator overnight. The next day, bring the lotus and 7 cups of water to a boil. Turn heat to low cover and simmer for 1 hour. Add Job’s tears seeds, and mung beans, cover and cook for another 30 minutes, then add yam and cook until tender (about 20-30 minutes). Enjoy!