Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Tea

Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Tea

　　 Kaifeng chrysanthemum tea is a specialty of Kaifeng City, Henan Province. Kaifeng is a world-renowned city famous for its chrysanthemums, and it has developed three series—Kaifeng Red Chrysanthemum, Kaifeng Yellow Chrysanthemum, and Kaifeng White Chrysanthemum—with a total of eight products. The Kaifeng chrysanthemum series teas not only taste great but also offer ornamental value and medicinal health benefits, making them excellent for both medicinal and drinking purposes.

　　 Kaifeng is a world-renowned city famous for its chrysanthemums, with a history of chrysanthemum cultivation that dates back over 1,500 years to the Northern and Southern Dynasties period. During the Northern Song Dynasty, Kaifeng led the way in terms of the variety, quantity, and cultivation techniques of chrysanthemums. The culture of growing and appreciating chrysanthemums flourished both in the imperial court and among the public, giving birth to China’s first monograph on chrysanthemum artistry—“Chrysanthemum Spectrum,” which recorded 35 varieties of chrysanthemums, an unprecedented number at the time. Today, there are over 1,000 varieties of chrysanthemums originating from Kaifeng, and the Kaifeng Chrysanthemum Festival has been successfully held for 29 editions. In this sense, Kaifeng truly deserves the title of “City of Chrysanthemums.”

　　 However, for some time, while Kaifenians have taken pride in their chrysanthemums, they have also felt a bit of inner conflict. Faced with the multiple functions of chrysanthemums—including ornamental, medicinal, edible, and ceremonial uses—Kaifeng’s practical chrysanthemum structure has remained rather one-dimensional, with the ornamental aspect overwhelmingly dominant, making it difficult to truly establish a chrysanthemum industry. Although efforts have been made in areas such as chrysanthemum banquets, chrysanthemum wine, and chrysanthemum beverages, some lacked scale, while others were short-lived. As for the deeper chrysanthemum culture, it naturally encountered obstacles. A major city with over 4,000 professionals in the chrysanthemum industry found itself in the awkward position of being big in chrysanthemums but not strong.

　　 On September 24, 2012, Kaifeng held a press conference titled “Exhibition of Achievements in the Industrialization of Kaifeng Chrysanthemums – Chrysanthemum Series Tea.” The event showcased three major series of Kaifeng chrysanthemum tea—Kaifeng Red Chrysanthemum, Kaifeng Yellow Chrysanthemum, and Kaifeng White Chrysanthemum—totaling eight varieties.

　　 After a year of research and development, Kaifeng successfully created three series of chrysanthemum tea—Kaifeng Red Chrysanthemum, Kaifeng Yellow Chrysanthemum, and Kaifeng White Chrysanthemum—with a total of eight products. The Kaifeng chrysanthemum series teas not only taste great but also offer ornamental value and medicinal health benefits, making them excellent for both medicinal and drinking purposes.

　　 Golden petals bloom in the tea, releasing a faint fragrance of chrysanthemums. As the chrysanthemum festival enters its 30th year, the world-famous Kaifeng chrysanthemums have extended their industrial chain into the realm of floral tea for the first time.