Fresh Hibiscus Tea Recipe
Hibiscus Tea not only tastes great, it has a glorious rose color and is high in Vitamin A, C, and Zinc. It may also help to reduce blood pressure (see a few human studies listed below). This beautiful drink can be served hot or cold.
Hibiscus Tea Ingredients
- 1 pint of hot water
- 4 Tbsp of fresh hibiscus flowers (2 ounces) – organically grown with no pesticides or chemicals
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 Tbsp of honey
- Slices of lemon, lime, or orange
Hibiscus Tea Instructions
- Gently rinse fresh picked red hibiscus blossoms that have not been exposed to pesticides or pollutants. Set aside.
- Heat 1 pint of water to 170 degrees. This is below boiling but still hot; you should be able to put a finger into the water without burning yourself.
- Pour the hot water over the hibiscus and steep for 4 minutes. Do not steep longer than 5 minutes or use water that is too hot because then the tea will be bitter tasting.
- Strain the tea. Compost or dispose of flower remains.
- In the hot tea water, add 1 Tbsp of honey.
- Allow to cool. Serve chilled, on ice, with a citrus slice as a garnish to each glass.
To serve hot, simply do not allow to cool 🙂
Hibiscus Tea Research
- Hibiscus helped in lowering blood pressure in pre-hypertensive adults. From: McKay, D. L., Chen, C. O., Saltzman, E., & Blumberg, J. B. (2009). Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults–4. The Journal of nutrition, 140(2), 298-303.
- Sixty patients with diabetes showed reduced hypertension with drinking hibiscus tea. From: Mozaffari-Khosravi, H., Jalali-Khanabadi, B. A., Afkhami-Ardekani, M., Fatehi, F., & Noori-Shadkam, M. (2009). The effects of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on hypertension in patients with type II diabetes. Journal of human hypertension, 23(1), 48.
By: Kathy Sadowski, MS in Aromatherapy, Registered Aromatherapist, LMT
4/11/18
