Wikipedia informs me that chrysanthemum tea has been enjoyed in mainland China since the 10th century and, according to traditional Chinese medicine, can be used to reduce fever, prevent sore throats and aid recovery from flu. A health beverage, steeped in history and enjoyed for over a millennium… Why has it taken Tesco so long to bring this wonder drink to the UK?
***Spoiler alert***
That would be the flavour.
Drink: Vita Chrysanthemum Tea Drink 250ml
Bought at: Sainsbury’s
Price: 40p
Available From: Sainsbury’s, Amazon, Tesco, Wing Yip
Looking at the ingredients list, this should be pretty potent stuff. It is made up of 66% chrysanthemum extract and has 8.5g of sugar per 100ml which isn’t far off coca cola. We suppose it must be very sweet and very chrysanthemum-y (whatever that is like)?
The carton doesn’t say much else apart from reassuring us that it has an ‘authentic taste’ and to ‘CONSUME IMMEDIATELY AFTER OPENING’. So… chug it down in one just to be sure?
To be honest, I am not expecting to enjoy this drink as I
A) Do not like floral flavours.
B) Do not like very sweet drinks.
C) Can’t help but be reminded by the carton of that 1970’s M&S bed set everyone’s Nan has in the spare room.
We rebelliously choose not to consume the drink IMMEDIATELY AFTER OPENING but instead tentatively insert the straw and have a sip…
Megan [Frowning]: It sort of tastes like a pillowcase too.
I didn’t realise I knew what a pillowcase tasted of, but gosh darn it Megan is 100% right. The flavour is intensely sweet for a fraction of a second before a huge tangy floral flavour comes and punches you in the face. The aftertaste is a bit bitter and I am left with an oddly dry sensation on my tongue. The whole experience is sort of like taking a shot of fabric softener, having a lick of a daffodil before biting down on a (very absorbent) pillow.
In conclusion: no.
1/10
Off the Bitten Track 