When you think of artichokes, you probably think of dishes like stuffed artichokes or artichoke dip, but have you ever thought of using artichokes to make artichoke tea? Yes, this is a thing in the Vietnamese culture. Since we are in peak Spring and artichokes are in abundant now, I thought I’d share an artichoke tea recipe that my mother used to make.
Artichoke tea, or tra atiso, is a tea made by boiling artichokes in water. Not only is this a refreshing tea for the warmer weather, but artichokes packs a punch as far as health benefits. This tea is easy to make and would be a great substitute for regular iced tea. I’ve modernized it by adding fresh pandan leaves, to add a hint of coconut flavor. If you do not have fresh pandan leaves, pandan extract can be used as well.
Artichoke Tea Recipe
WHERE DID ARTICHOKE TEA COME FROM
The French introduced the green artichoke to Vietnam in the 1940a, and being that the region’s climate was favorable for growing this, the artichoke became abundant in provinces such as Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Vinh Phuc and particularly, Da Lat. This is where it is believed the first artichoke tea came from. Due to the abundance of the artichoke in Da Lat, it was natural that the city’s flower became the artichoke plant.
BENEFITS OF ARTICHOKE TEA
Artichoke tea contains a plethora of health benefits, which makes it a very popular tea in Vietnam.
- Liver Detox—artichoke tea delivers detoxifying benefits for the liver and helps cleanse the liver of toxins. Artichokes contain cynarin and silymarin, which protect the liver from damage and promote the growth of new tissues.
- Bone Health—artichokes contain magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and manganese, which promotes bone health, making them more pliable and reducing the incidence of osteoporosis.
- Essential Nutrients—this tea is loaded with Vitamin A, C, Thiamine (B1), and zinc. By boiling the artichoke leaves, the water will be infused with all these nutrients and antioxidants.
- Stress and Anxiety— because artichoke contains magnesium, zinc, and potassium, it can help relieve stress and anxiety, helping you unwind. Because it is caffeine-free, artichoke tea does not promote jittery or anxiety.
- Boost Immunity—thanks to Vitamin C and antioxidants, sipping on artichoke tea can help strengthen your immunity.
- Cholesterol—there have been studies on the relationship between artichoke tea and cholesterol levels pointing out that patients who consumed artichoke leaf extract daily found a decrease in both total and LDL cholesterol over time.
WHAT DOES ARTICHOKE TEA TASTE LIKE
Green artichoke tea taste has a mild flavor profile and is naturally sweet. This variety will produce a light yellow-green color. The red variety boasts a unique tartness and a more energetic taste. The color for this has a beautiful red hue.
THE RECIPE
I’ve modernized this recipe by adding fresh pandan leaves. My mother used to make this using only artichokes, but I find adding pandan leaves adds an extra freshness to the already mild tea. Fresh pandan leaves can be found in most Asian supermarkets, but if you can’t find them, adding a few drops of pandan extract will work too. The tea can be sweetened with a sweetener of your choice, but I prefer to enjoy this without it and savor the natural flavors of the artichokes.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
- 4 whole artichokes
- 1 small bundle of fresh pandan, washed and tied with twine (pandan extract can also be used if fresh pandan leaves are unavailable)
- 1 1/2 gallon of water
- Sweetener of choice (optional)
Step 1:
In a large pot, bring the water to a roiling boil. Add in artichoke and pandan leaves and lower the temperature to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 2 hours, until artichokes are tender and soft.
Step 2:
Remove the artichokes (can be saved for dips) and pandan leaves. Optional: add sweetener of choice. Let the tea cool completely before straining into a glass mason jar or container. Serve over ice.
Artichoke Tea Recipe (Cha Atiso)
Ingredients
4 whole artichokes
1 small bundle of fresh pandan, washed, and tied with twine (pandan extract can also be used if fresh pandan leaves unavailable)
1 1/2 gallon of water
Sweetener of choice
Instructions
Artichoke Tea
In a large pot, bring the water to a roiling boil. Add in artichoke and pandan leaves and lower the temperature to medium-low, cover the pot, and cook for 2 hours, until artichokes are tender and soft.
Remove the artichokes (can be saved for dips) and pandan leaves. Optional: add sweetener of choice. Let the tea cool completely before straining into a glass mason jar or container. Serve over ice.
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Nutrition Facts
Calories
24.06
Fat
0.08 g
Sat. Fat
0.02 g
Carbs
5.48 g
Fiber
2.76 g
Net carbs
2.65 g
Sugar
0.54 g
Protein
1.67 g
Sodium
76.52 mg
Cholesterol
0 mg
