Floral Chrysanthemum Pear Tea Refresher

Name: Chrysanthemum Pear Iced Tea Refresher
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 4 servings, about 10 ounces each
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 1/4 cup dried food-grade chrysanthemum flowers, lightly rinsed under cool water and drained; 3 cups filtered water, heated to 190°F; 2 large ripe pears, about 14 ounces total, such as Bartlett, Anjou, or Asian pear; 1 cup filtered water; 3 tablespoons honey, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons more if your pears are not very sweet; 1 thin slice fresh ginger, about 1/8 inch thick, optional; 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt; 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice; 2 cups chilled sparkling water or cold still water; 2 cups ice, for serving; 8 thin pear slices; 4 small edible chrysanthemum blossoms or a few dried chrysanthemum flowers; 4 thin lemon wheels; 4 small mint sprigs

Imperial June 28, 2026June 28, 2026

Quick Recipe Version (TL;DR)

Yield: 4 servings, about 10 ounces each
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes, including steeping and chilling

Quick Ingredients

1/4 cup dried food-grade chrysanthemum flowers, lightly rinsed
4 cups filtered water, divided
2 large ripe pears, about 14 ounces total, cored and chopped
3 tablespoons honey, plus more to taste
1 thin slice fresh ginger, about 1/8 inch thick, optional
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
2 cups chilled sparkling water or cold still water
2 cups ice
For garnish: thin pear slices, small chrysanthemum blossoms, lemon wheels, or mint sprigs

Do This

1. Heat 3 cups filtered water to 190°F; steep chrysanthemum flowers for 8 minutes, then strain.
2. Simmer chopped pears with 1 cup water, honey, ginger if using, and salt for 10 minutes, until very soft.
3. Remove the ginger, blend the pear mixture until smooth, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
4. Stir the chrysanthemum tea, pear nectar, and lemon juice together in a pitcher.
5. Chill for 45 minutes, until cold, ideally 40°F or below.
6. Serve over ice, topping each glass with 1/2 cup sparkling water or still water.
7. Garnish with pear slices and a small edible chrysanthemum blossom, if desired.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Light, floral, and refreshing: Chrysanthemum tea brings a gentle honeyed-floral aroma that pairs beautifully with juicy pear.
Elegant but easy: The drink feels special enough for brunch, showers, or dinner parties, but the method is simple and home-cook friendly.
Naturally sweet: Ripe pears and a modest amount of honey create a soft sweetness without making the drink syrupy.
Serve it still or sparkling: Use sparkling water for a lively spritz-style refresher or still water for a calmer iced tea.

Grocery List

Produce: 2 large ripe pears, 1 lemon, fresh ginger, mint sprigs or extra pear for garnish if desired
Dairy: None
Pantry: Dried food-grade chrysanthemum flowers, honey, fine sea salt, filtered water, sparkling water or still water, ice

Full Ingredients

Chrysanthemum Tea Base

1/4 cup dried food-grade chrysanthemum flowers, lightly rinsed under cool water and drained
3 cups filtered water, heated to 190°F

Pear Nectar

2 large ripe pears, about 14 ounces total, such as Bartlett, Anjou, or Asian pear
1 cup filtered water
3 tablespoons honey, plus 1 to 2 teaspoons more if your pears are not very sweet
1 thin slice fresh ginger, about 1/8 inch thick, optional
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

To Finish

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups chilled sparkling water or cold still water
2 cups ice, for serving

Optional Garnishes

8 thin pear slices
4 small edible chrysanthemum blossoms or a few dried chrysanthemum flowers
4 thin lemon wheels
4 small mint sprigs

Floral Chrysanthemum Pear Tea Refresher – Closeup

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Rinse and steep the chrysanthemum

Place the dried chrysanthemum flowers in a fine-mesh sieve and give them a quick rinse under cool running water. This removes any loose dust and helps the brewed tea taste clean. Transfer the rinsed flowers to a heatproof bowl, teapot, or large measuring cup.

Heat 3 cups filtered water to 190°F. If you do not have a thermometer, bring the water to a boil, remove it from the heat, and let it stand for 2 minutes. Pour the hot water over the chrysanthemum flowers and steep for exactly 8 minutes. The tea should smell floral and lightly honeyed, not bitter.

Step 2: Strain the tea

Strain the chrysanthemum tea through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher or large jar. Press very gently on the flowers to release a little more tea, but do not mash them hard, which can make the flavor taste grassy. Discard the spent flowers or save a few attractive blossoms for garnish if they are still intact.

Step 3: Prepare the pears

Wash the pears well. Peel them if you want a very clear, delicate drink, or leave the skins on for a slightly fuller pear flavor and a pale golden tint. Core the pears and chop them into 1/2-inch pieces. You should have about 2 1/2 cups chopped pear.

Step 4: Simmer the pear nectar

In a small saucepan, combine the chopped pears, 1 cup filtered water, 3 tablespoons honey, the optional ginger slice, and 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt. Set the pan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, about 185°F to 195°F. Reduce the heat as needed to keep it bubbling softly, not boiling hard.

Cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pears are very tender and almost translucent around the edges. The salt will not make the drink taste salty; it simply helps the pear and floral notes taste rounder and brighter.

Step 5: Blend and strain the pear nectar

Remove and discard the ginger slice. Carefully transfer the warm pear mixture to a blender and blend for 30 to 45 seconds, until completely smooth. If using a countertop blender, vent the lid slightly and cover it with a clean kitchen towel to allow steam to escape safely.

Pour the blended pear mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into the pitcher with the chrysanthemum tea. Stir and press gently with a spoon to extract the smooth pear nectar. For a more rustic drink, you can skip this final straining; for the most elegant refresher, straining gives the cleanest sip.

Step 6: Balance with lemon and chill

Add 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice to the pitcher and stir well. Taste the mixture. If your pears were mild or not fully ripe, add 1 to 2 teaspoons more honey while the mixture is still slightly warm so it dissolves easily.

Refrigerate the pitcher uncovered until the steam has fully disappeared, then cover and chill for 45 minutes, or until the drink is cold, ideally 40°F or below. If you are short on time, set the pitcher in an ice bath and stir for 8 to 10 minutes before serving.

Step 7: Serve over ice

Fill 4 tall glasses with 1/2 cup ice each. Divide the chilled chrysanthemum pear mixture evenly among the glasses, adding about 3/4 cup to each glass. Top each serving with 1/2 cup chilled sparkling water for a bubbly refresher, or use cold still water for a smoother iced tea-style drink.

Step 8: Garnish and enjoy

Stir each glass gently once or twice. Garnish with thin pear slices, a small edible chrysanthemum blossom or a few dried chrysanthemum petals, a lemon wheel, or a mint sprig. Serve immediately while the drink is icy, fragrant, and bright.

Pro Tips

Use food-grade chrysanthemum: Buy dried chrysanthemum flowers labeled for tea or culinary use. Do not use decorative florist chrysanthemums.
Avoid boiling the flowers: Water around 190°F keeps the tea soft and floral. Fully boiling water can pull out harsher herbal notes.
Choose ripe pears: The pear should smell sweet near the stem and give slightly when pressed. Ripe pears make the drink naturally juicy and fragrant.
Strain for a polished texture: Pear puree can be slightly pulpy. A fine-mesh sieve gives the finished refresher a smooth, delicate finish.
Add bubbles at the last minute: If using sparkling water, pour it into the glasses just before serving so the drink stays lively.

Variations

Chrysanthemum Pear Spritz: Replace 1 cup of the sparkling water with nonalcoholic sparkling white grape juice for a sweeter, party-friendly version.
Cucumber Pear Cooler: Add 1/2 cup thinly sliced cucumber to the pitcher while chilling, then strain before serving for an extra crisp finish.
Warm Chrysanthemum Pear Tea: Skip the ice and sparkling water. After combining the tea, pear nectar, and lemon, warm gently to 150°F and serve in mugs.

Storage & Make-Ahead

The chrysanthemum pear base, before adding sparkling water and ice, can be made up to 3 days ahead. Store it in a covered pitcher or jar in the refrigerator at 40°F or below. Stir well before serving, as natural pear solids may settle at the bottom. For the freshest texture and sparkle, add the chilled sparkling water, ice, and garnishes only when you are ready to serve.

Nutrition (per serving)