The Benefits and Effects of Bitter Orange Flower: Regulating Qi and Stimulating Appetite When Brewed as Tea

The bitter orange flower is the blossom of the bitter orange (Citrus aurantium var. amara), a citrus plant in the Rutaceae family. This plant, also known as the bitter orange or sour orange, blooms mostly at the turn of spring and summer, with pure white petals and a fresh, intense fragrance. The harvested flower buds are sun-dried or oven-dried, after which they can be used as medicine and are also often brewed as tea, making them a fairly widely used herbal tea ingredient among the people.

From the perspective of traditional health practice, the bitter orange flower is mainly characterized by regulating qi and soothing the middle, and stimulating appetite. People commonly use it to relieve discomfort such as abdominal distension, poor appetite and indigestion; when you feel greasy and bloated after a meal, brewing a cup often makes the stomach and intestines feel more comfortable. With its pleasant aroma, it is also often enjoyed as a daily drink to soothe the mood and relax body and mind.

Brewing bitter orange flower tea is very simple: take a small amount of dried flowers, put them in a cup, pour hot water over them, cover and steep for a few minutes before drinking, and the flowers can be re-steeped several times. It is also often paired with rose, hawthorn, chrysanthemum and the like, each combination offering a different flavor and focus; those who prefer a lighter taste can add a little honey for seasoning.

It should be noted that although bitter orange flower tea is good, it should not be drunk in large amounts over the long term, and people with weak and cold spleen and stomach who are prone to diarrhea should control their intake even more. Pregnant women, breastfeeding women and those taking medication should best consult a doctor before drinking it. Herbal tea is only an aid to daily conditioning; when obvious discomfort occurs, medical attention should still be sought promptly, and it cannot replace proper treatment.

Besides being brewed as tea, the bitter orange flower has many other uses. Its flowers are strongly fragrant and can be used to scent flower tea or extract essence; the fruit of the bitter orange hangs on the branch for a long time without falling, and the old fruit can even turn back from green in the second year, giving it high ornamental value as well, making it a plant with both practical and ornamental qualities.