Why is it bitter to drink wolfberry, chrysanthemum and red dates soaked in water?
Why does wolfberry, chrysanthemum and red dates taste bitter when soaked in water? We need to understand the characteristics of these ingredients. Wolfberry is a common traditional Chinese medicine that has the effects of nourishing the liver and kidneys, improving eyesight and replenishing qi. Chrysanthemum is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine health tea, which has the functions of clearing away heat, detoxifying, calming and calming the nerves. Red dates are a nutritious fruit and are known as "natural vitamin pills". When these ingredients are soaked in water, their active ingredients and compounds will be released, resulting in a bitter taste.
The bitter taste may come from certain ingredients in these ingredients. For example, wolfberries contain substances called terpenoids, which have a bitter taste. Chrysanthemum contains a variety of flavonoids, some of which are also bitter substances. Red dates also contain some flavonoids and a variety of phenolic compounds, which can also impart a bitter taste.
The brewing time and temperature will also affect the production of bitter taste. If the soaking time is too long or the water temperature is too high, the bitter substances in the ingredients will be fully released, making the soaked water taste bitter.
How to reduce the bitterness?
One method is to boil the ingredients in boiling water and then soak them in water. This can dissolve some bitter substances in boiling water and reduce their release during the soaking process. When brewing, you can add some sweet substances, such as honey or rock sugar, to neutralize the bitter taste. You can also try to combine wolfberry, chrysanthemum and red dates with other ingredients, such as mint, lemon, etc., to increase the layering of taste.
Let’s be clear: bitter taste does not necessarily mean bad. In fact, bitter tastes have many benefits for the body. The bitter taste helps promote the secretion of digestive juices, enhance appetite, and has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, diuresis and reducing jaundice. Therefore, a moderate amount of bitterness is good for our health.
The bitter taste of wolfberry, chrysanthemum and red dates soaked in water is mainly due to some ingredients contained in the ingredients, as well as the brewing time and temperature. But we can reduce the bitterness through some methods, such as boiling ingredients, adding sweet substances, etc. The most important thing to understand is that bitterness is not a bad thing and can be good for you in moderation. Therefore, you might as well try this method of soaking in water and experience its unique taste and health effects.