Hibiscus tea has some amazing health benefits. Its delicious and super healthy. You can make it with fresh or dried flowers. Both variations of hibiscus tea, hot cup or hibiscus iced tea provide the healthy benefits and good for us.
Hibiscus tea also known as Jamaica tea or Agua de Jamaica or Karkade Tea. This is super refreshing and healthy,. You can have hot cup of tea infusion or enjoy a chilled glass of hibiscus Iced tea. Any which way it is healthy and has amazing health benefits.
Hibiscus tree is very common in Indian homes and gardens. When I lived in Fauji Bungalows during husband's tenure in Air force, almost every home had 1or 2 hibiscus tree so hibiscus flowers were aplenty.
Back then I did not know about this superfood much, For me it was a beautiful flower in pretty red hue and looked pretty in bowl on my centre table. But my naturopath neighbour introduced me to this delicious tea. That's how I came to know that hibiscus flower is edible and has a lot of healthy properties.
It's almost 10 years that I learned it and now I make this quite often at home .Let me talk about How to make hot hibiscus tea and iced tea, and and also how beneficial hibiscus is.
What is Hibiscus Tea
It is actually an hibiscus infusion or Tisane at the best. Nevertheless it is popularly known as tea. What attracts most is deep red pink hue. Make a chilled glass or hot cup with some lime and honey. The gorgeous deep colour is what I am always attracted to.
Just add a dash of honey and a squirt of lime in both drinks and it tastes almost like a heaven.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is known to help lower blood pressure and reduces blood sugar. It is great remedy for menstrual cramps. It is also help in people with Metabolic syndrome.
Hibiscus flower is rich in antioxidants and Vitamins like VitaminA, Vitamin C and Vitamin B1 and Iron. Rich in flavonoid glycosides which gives it a deep ruby red color.
Steeped floral tea recipes are very popular for health conscious people these days. Hibiscus tea not only tastes delicious but it is good for the health. This helps to lower the blood pressure and rich in vitamin C.
While it has a lot of benefits, but there can be side effects too.
Side Effects of Hibiscus Tea
Just as with any other medicinal plant, overdosing on hibiscus can have some side effects too. It affects oestrogen levels and potentially lower the blood pressure.
SO people who already have low blood pressure or are on blood sugar lowering medication should avoid the hibiscus tea.
How to make hibiscus tea
A steeped hibiscus flower tea recipe tastes good and has lots of benefits. You can make Hibiscus tea with fresh or dried flowers. In this post I am sharing both variations Hot tea as well as Iced tea.
Now that Hibiscus tree are in full bloom, I am only making it with fresh hibiscus flowers. But, I have included both recipes, with dried hibiscus flowers as well as with fresh hibiscus flowers.
I added in few raspberries which enhances the colour and taste both. Feel free to skip them if you do not have them.
Make it with fresh flowers or an infusion of dried hibiscus flower this is helps to lower the blood pressure and rich in vitamin C.
Two Ways to Make it
You can make this delicious hibiscus flower tea infusion in two ways. Hot tea infusion and Iced tea which is known as Agua de Jamaica.
Hot Hibiscus Tea (Infusion)
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 6-8 dried hibiscus flowers or 2-3 fresh hibiscus flowers
- Honey or Sweetener of your choice
- Lime Juice
Method
- Prepare the hibiscus flower, remove the stamens and Calyx (the part with which stem is attached with flower.
- In case you are using dried flower, they are mostly cleaned and ready to use.
- Heat the water and bring it to a boil.
- Switch off the heat, add in hibiscus flower .
- Let the hibiscus flowers steep for 10-15 minutes in hot water.
- Strain the tea and add honey or your preferred sweetener and generous squeeze of lime juice.
Hibiscus Iced Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
If you are like me, and prefer sipping tea or tea infusions over any other drink during summers, Iced Hibiscus infusion can be your latest favourite. I am obsessed these days :).
This Iced tea is also known as Agua De Jamaica. For making Iced tea, basic infusing method remains like hot tea. After making tea with flower, chill it in the fridge for a couple of hours and serve chilled with maybe some ice cubes.
Recipe Notes and Tips
Hibiscus tea has a fruity taste and slightly tart in taste, so in case you are not a fan of tart taste you can always add some honey or sweetener of your choice.
You can get it in packaged form. I prefer to make it with fresh hibiscus flower . But if fresh is not available the dried flowers are next best thing.
You must make it! With fresh flowers or an infusion of dried hibiscus flower whichever is easily available.
Other Drinks You May Like to Try
If you are looking for other summer drinks you may want to try.
Iced tea recipe,
Water Melon Mojito
Mango Mojito
Apple Iced Tea
Tea with Fresh Hibiscus Flowers
To make hibiscus tea with fresh flowers, I use flower petals. Simply remove everything else and steep the petals in hot water. After that strain add honey and lemon as per your taste.
Tea with with dried Hibiscus flowers
To make tea with dried hibiscus flower. Add dried petals in boiling water and allow to stand for few minutes. Then add honey and lemon and enjoy hot or cold.
Hibiscus Tea Recipe - Health Benefits
Ingredients
- ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers or 10-12 fresh hibiscus flowers
- 1 lemon
- 2-3 mint sprigs
- Ice cubes
- Sweetener of your choice
- 5 cups Water
Instructions
Prepare Hibiscus Flower for Tea
- Prepare the hibiscus flower remove the stamens and Calyx (the part with which stem is attached with flower. In case you are using dried flower, they are mostly cleaned and ready to use.
Steeping Hot Hibiscus Tea
- Heat the water and bring it to a boil. Switch off the heat, add in hibiscus flower. Let the hibiscus flowers steep for 10-15 minutes in hot water.
- Switch off the heat, add in hibiscus flower (remove the stamens first), Assam tea bag cover and allow the flower to steep for 10-15 minutes.
- Strain the tea and add honey or your preferred sweetener and generous squeeze of lime juice.
Making Hibiscus Iced Tea / Agua De Jamaica
- Make hibiscus tea as per above method. Allow it to cool and add ice cubes to chill it. Adjust honey and lemon juice as per your taste.
- Top it with some fresh mint leaves and serve the Iced hibiscus tea or Agua De Jamaica chilled.
Akshat Gupta
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