Traditional Hoi An Herbal Cooling Drink

Wash all fresh ingredients thoroughly. Bruise the lemongrass stalks by smashing them with the back of a knife and tie the pandan leaves into knots.

In a large pot, combine the water, bruised lemongrass, knotted pandan leaves, dried longan, dried jujube dates, and dried licorice root.

Bring the mixture to a rolling boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes.

Add the dried chrysanthemum flowers and rock sugar to the pot. Stir well until the rock sugar dissolves completely.

Continue to simmer for another 5-10 minutes, allowing all the flavors to fully meld and deepen.

Remove the pot from the heat and let the herbal drink cool slightly at room temperature.

Strain the entire mixture through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pitcher or heat-proof container, discarding all the solid ingredients.

Chill the Traditional Hoi An Herbal Cooling Drink in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours before serving. Serve it over ice, garnished with a thin slice of lime or lemon if desired.