Hibiscus | A Tasty, Healthy Addition To Many Tea Offerings
We're writing several blogs that will highlight a specific ingredient in our teas. It is helpful to understand what goes into your tea and why it tastes the way it does. Also, if an ingredient provides a health benefit, we want you to better understand what that benefit is. The first ingredient in this series is Hibiscus. Hibiscus is a great plant because it not only adds to the flavor profile of a tea, but it also provides very good health benefits. Did you know that Hibiscus is good for your blood pressure? Keep reading and I bet you'll learn a little more.
Hibiscus Tea Flavor
A healthy addition to tea isn't any good unless it adds to the tea drinking experience. Hibiscus is one of my favorite additions to our blends because it adds a beautiful red color to our teas as well as a delicious tartness that punches your taste buds with flavor. Our hibiscus tea blends are often infused with other fruits, spices, and tea leaves, such as black or green tea. Hibiscus-focused teas are calorie-free (before added sweeteners) and typically caffeine-free. With its juicy tartness, it can become a healthier alternative to fruit juices and can be enjoyed hot or iced. The flavors are often compared to cranberry or pomegranate juice. The addition of honey or sugar can give it a complimentary sweetness that makes it the perfect tropical-themed beverage.
Hibiscus Tea Origin
Now, where did hibiscus tea originate? Hibiscus comes from the Hibiscus sabdariffa plant. The plant blooms large, trumpet-shaped flowers and is native to regions with subtropical and tropical climates. Specific varietals of the plant are known to thrive as indoor and outdoor plants throughout the U.S. Hibiscus teas are part of the herbal tea or tisane family. Teas in this category do not contain the Camellia sinensis plant, which is the main ingredient in black, green, and oolong teas (among others). Any tea made from plants (excluding Camellia sinensis), fruit, roots, and spices is considered an herbal tea/tisane. The specific part of the plant that hibiscus tea leaves are made from is called the calyx. The calyx is what protects and supports the flower. Once the calyx is boiled down, the tea leaves produce a deep ruby red color and tart flavor.
Hibiscus Tea Benefits
In addition to the delicious flavor and appealing color, hibiscus tea comes with a plethora of health benefits. It is rich in Vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals such as calcium, iron, and magnesium. In Africa, hibiscus tea was initially used as a medicinal beverage. It was often used to decrease body temperature, prevent heart disease, lower blood pressure and high cholesterol, and treat poor immune systems and digestion. A report from the AHA (American Heart Association) published in 2008, found that drinking hibiscus tea dramatically reduced high blood pressure in people suffering or about to experience hypertension. Continued studies are showing that the anti-inflammatory properties of hibiscus tea are significantly lowering systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
