Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus Tea

Interesting facts about the benefits of the  Hibiscus flower .

Are you looking for some information on hibiscus tea? If so, this website is for you.

You’ll learn what hibiscus flower and hibiscus tea is, you’ll read about healthbenefits of the tea (such asblood pressure lowering properties, improved heart health and aid in weight loss) and of course you’ll learn how to make cold and hot tea.

Let’s start with basic facts about hibiscus from which the tea is made.

Hibiscus is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It contains several hundred species that are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions throughout the world (such as Mexico, Thailand, Pacific Islands, Egypt or Sudan). Member species are commonly known as hibiscus, sorrel, flor de Jamaica or rosemallow.

Hibiscus has many uses. Many species are used to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. One species of hibiscus is used to make paper. Hibiscus tea is a very popular beverage consumed by people all over the world. It’s also used as a mild medicine. Dried hibiscus is edible.

The tea from hibiscus is the infusion prepared using the calyx of the hibiscus flower. It is NOT made from the flowers of leaves of the plant. The tea has a tart taste, a bit like cranberries. It’s a beverage consumed by people all over the world, from Jamaica to Egypt and Sudan.

There are many different ways to make the tea from hibiscus. It can be consumed both hot and cold. Since it has a tart flavor, it’s often sweetened with honey or sugar.

Agua de Flor de Jamaica, popular mostly in Jamaica and other Caribbean countries, Mexico and Central America is served chilled and sugared.

Karkadé, very popular especially in Egypt and Sudan, is served hot or chilled with ice. In Egypt and Sudan it’s a tradition that wedding celebrations are toasted with a glass of hibiscus tea.

Roselle, popular in Thailand and Malaysia, is drunk cold and sugared. It can also be made into a wine.

Carcadè, popular in Italy, is also usually drunk cold and sugared, very often with squeezed lemon juice.

Hibiscus tea provides many health benefits. Here are a few of them:

1. It’s rich in vitamin C

Contrary to what many people think, vitamin C doesn’t prevent against the common cold. However, it may reduce the duration of illness. Vitamin C is also a strong antioxidant, which means that it protects from the damaging effects of free radicals.

2. It can reduce high blood pressure (or help maintain healthy blood pressure)

Studies done at Tufts University of Boston show that drinking three cups of hibiscus tea each day lowers blood pressure by an average of 7 points (after six weeks).

Another study (by researchers from Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences in Yazd, Iran) shows that drinking the tea from hibiscus has positive effects on blood pressure in type II diabetic patients with mild hypertension.

3. It’s a diuretic

Diuretics are used to treat hypertension, cirrhosis and certain kidney diseases. Since diuretics increase the excretion of water from body, hibiscus tea also aids in weight loss. Speaking of which…

4. Hibiscus aids in weight loss

Hibiscus tea has zero calories (if it isn’t sweetened) and is caffeine-free. It may increase satiety and it’s a diuretic so it aids in weight loss (if you don’t sweeten it; neither honey nor sugar will help you lose weight!). The fruit acids in hibiscus may work like a laxative. Consuming the tea after the meal helps in breaking down starch and sugar which eventually aids in fat loss.

Read more about hibiscus tea and weight loss.

5. It helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels and lowers the risk of heart disease

According to a study performed by Shan Medical University’s Institute of Biochemistry in Taiwan, extract from the hibiscus flower lowers both LDL cholesterol levels and the risk of heart disease. Read more about hibiscus tea and heart health.

6. It contains antioxidants

The tea from hibiscus contains antioxidants which protect against the development of cancer and may help prevent heart disease. Moreover, as mentioned before, antioxidants protect from the damaging effects of free radicals.

7. It’s high in electrolytes

Since hibiscus is high in electrolytes such as chloride, magnesium, potassium and sodium, the tea can be used to replenish electrolytes in the body after exercise. Without electrolytes, you wouldn’t survive!

To sum up, drinking the tea from hibiscus is definitely a great way to take care of your health!

Please keep in mind that if you have any health problems, you should always first consult drinking the tea with your doctor.

Most herbal medicines have side effects and may interact with other herbs or drugs. The tea from hibiscus isn’t an exception. There are certain cases when you should avoid drinking the tea such as:

• individuals suffering from hypotension (low blood pressure) – because hibiscus tea reduces blood pressure
• before driving (if you drink the tea for the first time) – some people experience hallucinations
• during pregnancy and breastfeeding – it isn’t known yet if the tea from hibiscus is safe for consumption during pregnancy and breastfeeding
• people who are on a hormone replacement therapy or had undergone it or women who are using birth control pills (because hibiscus may affect estrogen levels)

Moreover, the tea may interact with antihypertensive drugs (blood-pressure lowering drugs), anti-cancer drugs and acetaminophen.

Read Hibiscus Tea Side Effects to learn more about side effects, precautions and possible interactions with the tea.

Now you probably want to know how to make hibiscus tea. The easiest way to consume hibiscus is to prepare hot tea. Don’t worry – it’s very easy and quick! Here are instructions:

Step 1. Heat fresh water to a boil.

Step 2a. If you have loose leaf tea:

• put 1 tablespoon of hibiscus loose leaf tea in a teapot OR:
• put 1 teaspoon of hibiscus loose leaf tea in a mug

Pour boiling water into your teapot or mug, cover your mug or close your teapot and wait for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how you like your tea (10 minutes will result in a very strong tea). Your tea is ready to drink when it’s ruby red.

The tea from hibiscus has a tart taste. If you’d like it sweeter, add a tablespoon of honey or some sugar (remember that if you sweeten your tea, it will no longer be 0 calories).

Step 2b. If you have hibiscus tea tea bags:

Put 1 tea bag in a teapot or a mug, pour boiling water into your teapot or mug, close teapot or cover mug and wait for 5 minutes. Your tea is ready to drink when it’s deep red.

The tea has a tart flavor. If you’d like your tea sweeter, you can add a tablespoon of honey or some sugar (remember that your drink will no longer be calorie-free so it won’t aid you in fat loss!).

Step 3. Enjoy! There are many ways to drink the tea from hibiscus. You can experiment with different spices such as cloves (add one or two cloves), ginger (add a slice of ginger to your tea), cinnamon, nutmeg or even add a little rum (that’s how they sometimes drink it in Jamaica).

You can also drink hibiscus ice tea. Here’s the easiest way to make it:

You’ll need:

• 6 cups of cold water
• 2 cups of ice
• 1/2 cup of hibiscus flower tea leaves
• 1/2 cup of sugar (or any other natural sweetener including honey)

Before we start, keep in mind that hibiscus stains easily – pick a pot that won’t stain and be very careful, especially while pouring the liquid into a pitcher!

Step 1. Bring water to boil.
Step 2. Remove water from heat. Add hibiscus flower tea leaves and sugar to the water. Stir until all the sugar has dissolved.
Step 3. Place a lid over the pot and steep for 10 minutes.
Step 4. Pour the liquid into a pitcher. Add ice and if necessary, more cold water and/or sugar or honey.
Step 5. Cool completely and serve with plenty of ice in a glass.
Step 6. Enjoy!

What are you waiting for? Let’s drink some hibiscus tea!