Wednesday, 04 January 2012
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Hibiscus Tea – A Great Herbal Tea
In my first blog post I would like to share with you some basic information about hibiscus tea. Why should you drink it? In this article I’ll try to answer this question. But first a couple of basic facts…
If you want to make hibiscus tea, you need hibiscus flowers. Hibiscus species are native to warm-temperate, subtropical and tropical regions such as Mexico, Thailand, Egypt or Sudan. The tea is prepared using the calyx of the hibiscus flower. You should easily find hibiscus teabags or loose leaf tea in a store with teas. In some countries, the tea is even commonly sold on the streets (for example in Egypt, Senegal or Sudan)!
Hibiscus tea is consumed all over the world, but it isn’t very popular in the USA, Canada or the UK. It’s drunk mainly in the Carribean, Mexico, Panama, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, Sudan and Senegal.
Now that you know these facts, I can share with you three good reasons to start drinking hibiscus tea. Here they are:
1. It provides many health benefits
First of all, hibiscus tea is very effective in treating hypertension (high blood pressure). Drinking two to three cups each day for a few weeks can lower your blood pressure even by ten points. Moreover, the tea is effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels and as a result, lowering your risk of heart disease. It’s also rich in antioxidants which play a key role in eliminating cell-damaging free radicals.
2. It’s tasty
You can either drink hot hibiscus tea (steep it for 5 to 10 minutes) or hibiscus ice tea (serve it completely chilled with plenty of ice). The flavor of the tea is tart, cranberry-like. Most people usually sweeten it with a tablespoon of sugar or honey. You can also improve its taste by adding spices such as a slice of ginger or one or two cloves.
3. It’s generally safe
Drinking hibiscus tea has a low risk of side effects. It’s safe for most people. Although it’s generally safe, some people shouldn’t drink it: pregnant or breastfeeding women, women who are using birth control pills or are on a hormone replacement therapy and people with low blood pressure. Keep in mind that the tea is a herbal medicine, so you should ask your doctor first if you can drink it (especially if you have health problems).
I hope that my post sparked some interest in you! Try hibiscus tea today – you have nothing to lose (of course if you can drink it) and a lot to gain!
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