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The Drink of Kings: Lotus tea

In Asian countries, the lotus is a symbol of purity and perfection. In Vietnamese culture, the lotus symbolises honour. From ancient times, Vietnamese leaders have traditionally been regular drinkers of lotus tea. 

‍History check

During the Nguyen dynasty, one of the most famous Vietnamese kings, Tu Duc, established the tradition of drinking tea infused with lotus nectar made from dew. The lotus is an amazing flower. It opens in the morning and closes again in the evening. During night-time, dew becomes saturated with the flowery aroma to produce a wonderful nectar, which is added to green tea. This combination of fresh flavours is so special and valuable that in the past, lotus tea was brewed only for kings. That’s why that drink is traditionally called the “drink of kings”.

Apart from its status as the king’s tea, at the beginning of the Nguyen dynasty, the Vietnamese developed a special way making lotus tea. It was really beautiful. They placed green tea in a lotus blossom and tied it up with string. By the morning, the tea had become imbued with the sweet scent of the lotus.

‍Benefits of drinking lotus tea

Nowadays, the Vietnamese often give lotus tea as a present to important guests as a sign of respect or even love. This is not surprising, since lotus tea is the best way to show you care because it is full of healthy nutrients which is good for humans. 

First, Vietnamese lotus tea is a good sedative, which relaxes and relieves stress. Modern life is full of different stress factors, from problems at work to problems at home. So, it is very important to give yourself time to reflect, and drinking lotus tea is a great way of doing that. 

Also lotus tea is good for detoxing, especially the blood. It is a wonderful way to clean the different toxins that accumulate all day long in our bodies. That’s why some Vietnamese people drink a cup of lotus tea each evening. 

Most importantly, Vietnamese lotus tea is rich in vitamin C, which is really important for our immune system. Moreover, it helps us to deal with low temperatures and elevates our mood during the day. A cup of this tea contains 75% of our daily requirements for vitamin C.