By Eric Brand

Several varieties of Ju Hua exist on the market. All of the products are the same botanical species but they can be broadly divided based on the color of the flower and the growing region. The following types of Ju Hua can be differentiated in the Taiwanese market:

Gong Ju (“tribute” chrysanthemum)
Hang Ju (Hangzhou-area chrysanthemum)
Bai Ju (white chrysanthemum)
Bo Ju (Bozhou chrysanthemum)
Jin Ju (golden chrysanthemum)
Ben Ju (local chrysanthemum grown in Taiwan)

...

Gong Ju comes from Anhui province, specifically the regions of Xi county, Jin Zhu Ling, and Da Zhou. The flowers are relatively small with dense, small petals. The flowers are round, white, and have a yellowish-green center. The quality is high.

Hang Ju comes from Zhejiang province, specifically the regions Hai Ning, Tong Xiang, and Jia Xing. It has been collected and distributed out of Hangzhou since ancient times, so it is called Hang Ju. It is suitable for brewing as a tea so it is also called Cha Ju, “tea chrysanthemum.” The ancient name “sweet chrysanthemum” (Gan Ju Hua) referred to the chrysanthemum from this region, so the name sweet chrysanthemum is seen as well. Hang Ju has both white and yellow varieties. The flowers are large and flat, and the petals are wide, sparse and white with a touch of yellow. The stamens are very large, deep yellow in color, and the center is yellow. The texture is particularly soft.

Bo Ju is cultivated in the Bo county of Anhui. After harvest it is hung upside-down in darkness, then packed into boxes and pressed flat, giving it a fan-like shape. This type is the best white chrysanthemum. The flowers are large and the petals are long and wide, the color is white, and the flower base is green. The center of the flower is yellow and the flower feels smooth and firm when held in the hand.

Jin Ju is called “gold chrysanthemum” because it has a deep gold color. Yellow chrysanthemum is harvested and then baked to dry. It is thus a type of yellow chrysanthemum that is called “gold” because of its color.

Ben Ju, “local chrysanthemum,” is chrysanthemum that is grown in Taiwan. It is grown in large quantities and looks similar to white Hang Ju. It is often called Hang Ju in trade because the two share a similar appearance.

Many types of Ju Hua exist, and some items such as the prized Chu Ju (from Chu county in Anhui province) are rarely seen on the market in Taiwan. Specific trade varieties of Ju Hua are also grown in Henan, Sichuan, Zhejiang’s De county, and Shandong’s Jinan county, but these are rarely sold in Taiwan.