Thailand is a popular tourist destination. Therefore, it’s not unusual that a lot of booze is consumed in the Kingdom. But it is not just tourists and expats that enjoy beer and liquor to excess sometimes. Thai drinkers have made Thailand the 5th largest consumer of alcohol in the world per capita, with beer and white whiskey (lao khao) being the most popular choices. With all that drinking going on, it is important to take care of your liver health. That’s why today’s post will focus on one of the best Thai herbal teas you can drink to help your liver.
Peony flower tea is an inexpensive Thai herbal tea that helps to nourish the blood and detox the liver. Peony root tea has a long history in Chinese medicine in the treatment of liver inflammation, fatty liver disease, and cirrhosis of the liver (by lowering bilirubin levels), but Peony flower tea also promotes liver health and is loaded with antioxidants, such as squalene and vitamin E, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, oleic acid, and unsaponifiables. As with many of the best teas in Thailand, peony flowers for tea making are most popularly grown in the North of Thailand, in provinces like Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
Studies have shown the most antioxidants are found in the purple and yellow varieties of the Peony flower. Other Peony benefits include the improvement of cognition, memory, and mood. And (for women) the alleviation of cramps and symptoms related to PMS. It’s not surprising that researchers have found the Peony flower to possess such a rich health-promoting profile, considering the flower’s ancient symbolic meaning has been one of happiness, good fortune, prosperity, joy, and peace of mind.
It’s hard to find Peony flower tea in tea-bag form in Thailand. You will need to buy the Peony flower blossoms, which can be bought for around 80-100 baht for a large 250 gram bag. Drop 3-5 blossoms (depending on size) into your tea infuser or just a mug of hot water, and let it steep for 5 minutes. It is easy to spoon the blossoms out of your mug if you don’t have a tea infuser. Thai Peony flower tea does not have a strong flavor. It has a very gentle floral and grassy taste. We suggest mixing it with hot milk and teaspoon of Sakon Nakhon honey for a perfect, rejuvenating herbal nightcap. The cognitive boosting effects of this caffeine-free tea may give you enhanced and more memorable dreams, as well as promoting your liver health.