The Daily Antioxidant Elixir: Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus is a vibrant and eye-catching flower that is not only visually appealing but also incredibly beneficial for our health. One of the most popular ways to consume hibiscus is by steeping its petals in hot water to make a delicious and refreshing tea.

In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of hibiscus tea, its unique flavour profile, and how to make a decaffeinated and healthy floral tea using hibiscus.

 

Hibiscus health benefits

Hibiscus tea has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat a variety of ailments. Recent studies have confirmed that hibiscus tea has numerous health benefits, potentially helping reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and inflammation.

Hibiscus tea is also rich in antioxidants, which help protect our cells from damage caused by free radicals and oxidative stress.

Additionally, hibiscus tea is an excellent source of Vitamin C, which can boost our immune system and promote healthy skin.

 

Flavour Profile

One of the unique qualities of hibiscus tea is its tart and tangy flavour profile. The tea is often described as having a cranberry-like taste, with a slightly floral and herbal undertone.

This makes hibiscus tea a refreshing and invigorating beverage that can be enjoyed hot or cold.

Many people prefer to add a bit of honey or sugar to their hibiscus tea to balance out the tartness and enhance its natural sweetness. However, it can also be enjoyed on its own as a healthy sugar-free and caffeine-free beverage.

 

How to make Hibiscus Tea

To make hibiscus tea, you will need dried hibiscus flowers, water, and a sweetener of your choice (honey, or agave for a plant-based alternative), although the sweetener is optional.

Here are the steps to make hibiscus tea:

1. Boil water in a pot on the stove or using an electric kettle.

2. Add dried hibiscus flowers to a tea infuser or directly to the pot. Use about 1-2 teaspoons of dried flowers per cup of water.

3. Pour the boiling water over the hibiscus flowers and let steep for 3-5 minutes.

4. Remove the tea infuser or strain the tea using a fine-mesh sieve.

5. If desired, add a sweetener such as honey, sugar or agave to taste.

6. Serve hot or let cool in the refrigerator for a refreshing iced tea.

You can adjust the amount of hibiscus flowers and steeping time to your liking, depending on how strong you like your tea.

 

Another way to enjoy the taste and benefits of hibiscus flowers is to use them as ingredients in herbal tea blends, for a more complex flavour profile and enhanced health benefits.

We use hibiscus flowers in our blends 01 Blushing Rose, 02 Exotic Elixir, 05 Wild Violet.