Tea of the Month: Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is an herbal beverage that is made from hibiscus flowers. Many Asian natives have been enjoying hibiscus tea benefits for a long time. If you are yet to drink this tea, you can find out more about it and what it’s good for below.
Known scientifically as Hibiscus sabdariffa, the hibiscus is a tropical plant belonging to the flowering mallow family. There are over two hundred species of the plant, and it populates regions with temperate, warm, tropical, and subtropical climates. The tea has a cranberry-like flavor and is made from hibiscus sepals. It has organic acids, which are quite beneficial for the body. There are also many other beneficial properties in tea.
What Is Hibiscus Tea Good For?
Hibiscus tea contains rich antioxidants, and these can help to fight free radicals within the body to reduce premature aging and more. The antioxidants also help to promote cell development, reduce the risk of cataracts and cancer, improve the immune system to fight off colds, flu, and fever, plus more.
This tea will act as a natural antispasmodic and help to relieve ailments such as muscle spasms or cramps, stomach cramps, and menstrual cramps. The tea helps with weight loss as well. It contains an amylase enzyme that will break down starches and various other complex sugars inside the body. There are also amylase inhibitors that will prevent certain starches from absorbing. This will lower the consumption of carbohydrates and result in weight loss.
People who drink organic hibiscus tea are also less vulnerable to health conditions such as high blood pressure, liver disorders, and high cholesterol. It has an antibacterial property that will help to fight common ailments like whooping cough, bloating, flatulence, indigestion, and upset stomach. You can also get relief from constipation if you drink this tea.
More about Hibiscus Tea Blood Pressure
Many studies show that hibiscus can help effectively lower blood pressure due to its protective abilities. It has anthocyanins chemicals that solidify collagen or protein in the blood vessels to significantly improve their functionality and helps the cells and tissues to become sturdy. The tea has proven to lower blood pressure levels in hypertension patients, helping to protect the heart muscles and blood vessels from oxidative damage. Some doctors suggest that drinking a minimum of three cups daily can help to lower high blood pressure levels.
Best Hibiscus Tea
When one thinks of the best tea from hibiscus flowers, this is always subjective since everyone has different tastes. Furthermore, there are different variations available for you to try in order to determine the best type.
Hibiscus tea is consumed widely on its own from Africa to Southeast Asia and the Caribbean. It is made with a unique twist in these regions. In North Africa, the tea is called karkade, and it has a long history in this area, especially in Egypt. In Latin America, it is called agua de flor de Jamaica, agua de Jamaica, Jamaica, or rosa de Jamaica. In Panama, it is known as saril.
People drink it in other regions as well, and it’s blended with black tea.
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How to Prepare Hibiscus Tea?
Boil two to three cups of water in a large saucepan. Once this is done, turn off the heat and add about four fresh hibiscus flowers or two tablespoons of the dried flower petals to the water. After that, you can add one or two cinnamon sticks to the brew, cover up the saucepan and then leave it for about fifteen to twenty minutes. The steeping should not go beyond twenty minutes because this might give you a bitter taste.
At this point, the brew will have a sour flavor and look like some fruit juices. After straining the mixture, you can sweeten it with a bit of honey and fresh lemon juice to enhance the flavor. You can drink tea as a cold or hot beverage.
Last but not least, this tea is associated with some side effects just like many other herbal remedies. Some people have experienced hallucinogenic effects or feelings similar to intoxication after drinking this tea. As of such, you are not advised to drink it during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Hibiscus Tea for Weight Loss
Tea made out of the beautiful hibiscus flower is one of the healthiest in all of nature. In addition to lowering blood pressure, it has a strong effect on weight loss. We reveal more…
Red flowers rich in nutrients, flavonoids, and minerals grow on hibiscus trees. They are used to make wonderful tea with a fruity aroma which is popular all over the world.
Amylase Inhibitor
Hibiscus tea is an amylase inhibitor, including faseolamine, which influences the way the body absorbs fats and carbohydrates. Amylases are body enzymes that break sugar complexes and starch, therefore reducing the absorption of carbohydrates. Faseolamine is also located in beans. Research has shown that bean extract helps with weight loss and the upkeep of muscle mass.
Diuretic
Research has shown that hibiscus flowers have diuretic properties which can help with flatulence. That is, they contain a high amount of electrolytes of potassium, calcium, and vitamin C, which have a big effect on flatulence problems.
Antioxidants
Antioxidants which are located in hibiscus tea have a positive impact on the heart and general human health. They have an important role in cleansing the body and removing fat. In addition to that, they protect the heart and blood vessels from damage caused by oxidants. Research has shown that hibiscus lowers elevated blood pressure as well.
Bioflavonoids
Hibiscus is also rich in bioflavonoids such as proanthocyanidins which can also be found in grape seed extract. These bioflavonoids lower cholesterol levels, improve circulation and protect cells from the harmful effect of free radicals. Experts say hibiscus tea helps with weight loss not only because it improves overall health but also because it accelerates metabolism and improves nutrient absorption.
Side Effects
Side effects of consuming hibiscus tea are largely unknown, and it is recommended to most people. However, it is not recommended to pregnant women because some studies have shown that it can induce menstruation, which can lead to spontaneous miscarriage. Side effects for wet nurses are unknown, but just to be on the safe side, avoid hibiscus tea during this period of your life.
Hibiscus Tea Recipe
The Hibiscus plant is a tropical flower, and its sepals can be used to make a refreshing herbal tea. There are more than two hundred species of this plant, and it populates regions with temperate, warm, tropical, and subtropical climates. Asian natives have been drinking hibiscus tea for many years to take advantage of its health benefits. If you are yet to drink this beverage, you can check online for hibiscus tea recipe suggestions.
The tea from the hibiscus plant has a cranberry-like tart flavor. You can have it sugar-free or sweetened with sugar. It has organic acids such as tartaric, maleic, and citric, which are beneficial to our body.
Health Benefits
This tea is said to be a natural antispasmodic, which means that it can help to relieve ailments such as stomach cramps, muscle spasms or cramps, and menstrual cramps.
Hibiscus contains an amylase enzyme, and this will break down starch and other complex sugars. The amylase will act as an inhibitor to block certain starch from absorbing, which will lower the consumption of carbohydrates and result in weight loss.
Hibiscus tea is also high in antioxidants, and these can help to fight the free radicals inside the body and reduce premature aging. In addition to that, the antioxidants promote cell growth, reduce your chances of having cataracts, cancer, and more, as well as improve the immune system for the body to ward off colds, flu, and fever.
People who drink hibiscus tea are less susceptible to conditions such as high-blood pressure, liver disorders, and high cholesterol. The tea has antibacterial properties that will also help to fight off many common ailments such as bloating, whooping cough, upset stomach, flatulence, indigestion, and constipation.
How to Make Hibiscus Tea
You can prepare this tea easily and quickly. Start by boiling two to three cups of water in a large saucepan.
Afterward, you would turn off the heat and drop around four fresh hibiscus flowers in the water. On the other hand, you could add two tablespoons of dried flower petals to the water.
The next step is to add one or two cinnamon sticks to the water and flower mixture. After this, you should cover the saucepan for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Note that steeping beyond the twenty minutes will give a bitter taste.
Strain the steeped tea into a pitcher, and then add honey and fresh lemon juice to enhance the flavor.