Young people in Han-style clothing taste chrysanthemum wine in Fuzhou, Fujian province, Oct 16, 2010. [Photo by Zheng Shuai/asianewsphoto.com]

Season for drinking chrysanthemum wine

Chrysanthemum is the iconic flower of Cold Dew. To prevent autumn dryness, many regions in China have the custom of drinking chrysanthemum wine. This is a tradition of the Double Ninth Festival (on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar), which often falls around Cold Dew. According to ancient records, drinking the wine made with chrysanthemums, poria cocos and pine oleoresin grants people long lasting youth.