HEALTHY HIBISCUS TEA RECIPES AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
HEALTHY HIBISCUS TEA RECIPE AND HEALTH BENEFITS.
Hibiscus tea is made by brewing fresh hibiscus flowers or dried hibiscus into boiled water. Its slightly fruity flavor and sweet uplifting aroma make it perfect to be enjoyed hot or cold. Its tempting red color, tart aroma and vitamin C content are added windfalls to give it a super try!
What is Hibiscus?
Common names: Karkade, red sorrel
Hibiscus is a flowering plant in the mallow family, Malvaceae. More than three hundred species exist of this flowering evergreen shrub-like tree.
The red or orange petals are the parts usually used to color and flavor tea because the flower is naturally sweet. The petals also comprise the key ingredient of a popular Egyptian refreshment called Karkade.
Other parts of the plant can be used in medicinal teas as well. The root soothes the respiratory and digestive systems and the bark is reputed to regulate the menstrual cycle.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus flower tea can be taken to support the immune system. If you fall prey to a virus, you can drink the tea to alleviate your cold symptoms because hibiscus dissolves phlegm.
The flowers taken in tea lessen inflammation, kill bacteria, increase the body’s circulation, and break up obstructions that reduce the body’s energy reserves, such as prolonged, low-grade fevers or sluggish digestion.
Hibiscus helps a person go to the bathroom and produce a bowel movement. It also promotes the functioning of the body’s systems, maintains health, and increases energy.
Finally, according to a study performed, drinking just three cups of hibiscus tea per day can lower blood pressure and prevent heart attack and stroke.
Caution About Hibiscus Tea
Because of its ability to increase the flow of urine and stimulate the digestive tract, it seems that the hibiscus may interfere with some painkillers by flushing them from the body too quickly.
Another caution about hibiscus flower tea is that you should exercise caution when drinking it during pregnancy as it can cause a miscarriage. Since hibiscus flowers are used to color and improve the flavor of many different herbal teas, if you are pregnant the advice is to check the herbal tea’s ingredients lists, especially for those herbal teas that turn red or orange in the cup.
How To Make Hibiscus Tea
INGREDIENTS
1) 1 cup of boiling water
2) fresh hibiscus Flowers or dried hibiscus tea
PREPARATION
1) Fill the kettle with fresh water. Bring the water to a boil, then pour some into your teacup or teapot to warm it up. Discard the water.
2) Measure out 1 teaspoon of hibiscus tea or put 1-2 fresh hibiscus flowers into a teapot. This amount will vary according to your taste, so experiment.
3) Pour the boiled water (which should be between 176 to 185°F/80 to 85°C) over the tea and cover it to trap the beautiful aroma.
4) Allow the tea to steep for three to five minutes. Pour the tea from the teapot using a tea strainer, and enjoy.