【春季養生系列──金銀花蜜茶】
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春季，乍暖還寒，氣候多變，較易感染呼吸疾病。金銀花蜜茶，可緩解春季常見的上呼吸道感染、扁桃炎、流行性感冒等病症，有助涼血止痢、利尿養肝。
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金銀花是忍冬科植物，忍冬的花蕾，性寒、味微苦、氣味清香。金銀花是名貴的中藥，其湯色翠綠透亮，聞之氣味芳鬱，飲之味甘爽肺，具有清熱解毒、抗菌消炎、通經活血等功能。
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需要注意的是金銀花茶適合在出現輕微症狀時飲用，最能起到一定的效果。此外，金銀花茶藥性偏寒，脾胃虛寒、婦女月經期內不宜飲用，任何飲食都不宜大量食用，秉持適量飲用的原則即可。以下附上「金銀花蜜茶」的材料與作法。
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材料：
金銀花（曬乾）5克、蜂蜜5克、開水500毫升。
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做法：
1. 將金銀花倒入茶壺；
2. 沖入90-100℃沸水；
3. 加蓋燜泡10-15分鐘；
4. 調入蜂蜜，拌和均勻；
5. 茶色呈淺金色；
6. 倒出飲用。
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#養生、#金銀花rnrnFood for healthy living in spring season- Honeysuckle or jinyinhua (金银花)
In spring, it is common that momentary warmth is followed by a return to the cold weather. As the weather changes frequently, it is easy for one to contract respiratory diseases due to infection. Honeysuckle tea brewed with honey helps to relieve diseases due to infection of the respiratory tract, which is common during the spring season, as well as tonsillitis, influenza and other diseases. It helps to “cool the blood” and stops dysentery. It also has a diuretic effect (increasing urine production) and nourishes the liver.
Honeysuckle is a Caprifoliaceae family of dicotyledonous flowering plants (some call it snowberry). The flower of this family of plants is a “cold food” by nature, according to Chinese Medicine tradition. It has a slightly bitter taste and a light fragrance. Honeysuckle is a precious Chinese medicine. The honeysuckle tea has a bright bluish-green color with a rich fragrance. It also has a sweet taste and refreshes the lungs when consumed, with benefits of alleviation of “internal heat” and detoxification. It also has an antibacterial and anti- inflammatory function, and helps to invigorate the circulation of blood and stimulate menstrual flows.
However, one needs to take precautions so that honeysuckle tea is suitable for use at initial stage of the respective symptoms, in order to reap the intended benefits. In addition, honeysuckle tea is “cold” by nature according to Chinese Medicine tradition. This means that those who have weak spleens and stomachs and those who are having their menstruation periods should refrain from taking this tea. Finally, as with all food and beverages, the tea should only be consumed in appropriate amount and not excessively.
The following is the recipe for brewing “honeysuckle tea with honey”:
Ingredients :
Honeysuckle (sun-dried) 5 grams
Honey 5 grams
Water (boiled) 500 ml
Method :
1. Pour the honeysuckle into the teapot;
2. Add boiled water at 90-100 degC;
3. Close the lid and boil for 10 to 15 minutes;
4. Add honey gradually and stir the tea to achieve evenness;
5. The tea is now light-golden in color;
6. Pour out the tea, which is ready for serving.
#HealthyLiving, #Honeysuckle