hibiscustea's Space

Most people in the Western world haven’t ever heard about hibiscus tea. It’s a shame, because it’s a great herbal tea which provides numerous health benefits and which is drunk by a lot of people simply because of its unique taste. In this post I want you share with you a few basic facts about this tea.

Firstly, where does hibiscus tea come from? It’s an infusion which is prepared using the calyx of the hibiscus flower. Hibiscus species are native to regions such as Mexico, Thailand, China, Egypt, Sudan and India.

The tea is commonly consumed in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, parts of South America, North Africa (Egypt and Sudan), West Africa (especially Senegal) and South East Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, parts of China).

Since hibiscus tea is popular in so many different countries with so many different climates, there are many ways to make it. You can make “standard” hot tea using teabags or loose leaf tea. Another way to make the tea is to make chilled tea and serve it with plenty of ice.

Hibiscus tea has a tart flavor which is similar to the taste of cranberries. Since it’s bitter, many people sweeten it with a tablespoon of sugar or honey. Some people also add spices such as a slice of ginger or one or two cloves.

Hibiscus tea is traditionally used as a mild herbal medicine. Here are just a few benefits of this tea:

1. It reduces blood pressure
Studies show that drinking three cups of the tea each day for six weeks lowers blood pressure by an average of seven points. In another study, drinking 16 ounces of the tea a day for four weeks lowered diastolic blood pressure levels by ten points in 79% of the study participants (with mild to moderate hypertension).

2. It lowers LDL cholesterol levels
Studies show that hibiscus tea can reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol levels and as a result, lower your risk of heart disease.

3. It’s rich in antioxidants
Antioxidants destroy cell-damaging free radicals. Moreover, they probably lower the risk of many serious health problems such as heart disease or some cancers.

4. It’s high in electrolytes
… which means that it’s a great healthy post-workout drink.

5. It’s a diuretic and a mild laxative
…which is helpful in treating liver cirrhosis, certain kidney diseases and of course hypertension (high blood pressure). It can be also useful for dieters who want to get rid of excess water in the body.

I hope that you’ll give hibiscus tea a try!