When you hear the name “Hibiscus” you’re probably picturing a beautiful Hawaiian scene or an awesome luau with strings of brightly colored flowers in the summer. At least, that’s what comes to mind for me. This beautiful flower is generally found in tropical regions; which explains why it’s so highly regarded in places like Jamaica. What you probably didn’t know is that this flower can be incorporated into your diet through foods and teas, and the hibiscus tea benefits are plentiful.
Who is Hibiscus Tea good for?
The truth is, everyone can benefit from heart-healthy ingredients like the hibiscus, but reports show that it’s biggest benefits are in relieving hypertension, improving insulin resistance (common in diseases like diabetes and polycystic ovarian syndrome) and even helps with weight loss.
The best part, it tastes amazing! This pink flower isn’t just a great treat for the eye, but the teas made from it taste delicious and are great for a morning drink or even a party cocktail if you infuse some champagne within it.
So tell me, what are the actual benefits of the tea?
The recipe you’ll find below includes cinnamon, ginger, hibiscus, allspice berries and agave syrup or raw sugar. These ingredients combined make for an astounding list of health benefits that should be enjoyed and taken advantage of.
- Cholesterol Control – Similarly to the robust red wine that’s said to be chalk full of antioxidants and bioflavonoids, Hibiscus tea has been shown as a comparable alternative and has shown to improve heart health.
- Blood Pressure Management – Studies are backing the great effects that this awesome plant has on your blood pressure, too. In fact, one study reports that people who frequently drink hibiscus tea, saw a reduction of 7.2 points in their systolic blood pressure.
- Fights off the common cold – Rich with vitamin C, the hibiscus plant boosts your immune system in all the right ways and is helpful in treating and preventing viruses like the cold or flu.
- Improvement in Depression, Decrease in Mood Swings – The hibiscus plant includes stress fighting vitamins and nutrients that help you stay calm and keep you happier!
- Improvement for IBS and Digestion – The hibiscus plant can also act as a diuretic, improving function of your bladder and your bowels which has been reported to help those with things like IBS.
- Helps fight off carcinogens; Cancer prevention – As with any antioxidant dense food or plant, hibiscus helps slow down the growth of toxins in your blood stream, and contributes to removal of free radicals.
- Aids in weight loss – All of these things combined helps you lose weight and keep it off.
How to make a traditional Jamaican Hibiscus Tea
Recipe by HealthyHerLiving.com.
What you need:
- 2 Quarts filtered water
- Hibiscus petals
- ¾ – 1c Raw sugar or agave syrup
- 1/2 Raw cinnamon stick
- Organic Ginger Root (1 thin slice)
- Allspice Berries
What to do with them:
- Boil ½ of Water in a saucepan with all ingredients EXCEPT for Hibiscus petals
- Once boiling, remove from heat and add Hibiscus Petals
- Cover and let sit for ~20 minutes
- Strain over pitcher, discard materials (except the liquid of course)
- Add remaining water
- Serve chilled over ice
Sources:
Veria – Hibiscus Tea Benefits list
