Health & Well Being

Hibiscus Flower Tea

A new study has just recently been published once again showing the fantastic cardiovascular protective abilities of Hibiscus Flower tea.  But before we go into the study lets talk about these beautiful red coloured flowers, fruits and veges…….

Including fruits or vegetables that are red or purple…

In colour into your diet can significantly improve your cardiovascular health and reduce your risk of heart disease and strokes.  If you think about the most highly studied of this food group you get Red wine (red grapes), blackberries, cranberries and tomatoes.

Why…

The reason these foods are so good for you is to do with the specific antioxidants called pro-anthocyanidins found in these red coloured foods.  In numerous studies they have discovered this group of antioxidants are helpful for reducing blood pressure, reducing body fat, preventing atherosclerosis and blood clots.

So lets get back to the Hibiscus tea….

The fact that Hibiscus is this red/pink colour means it contains a high amount of the protective pro-anthocyanidins. Thus the studies have found drinking Hibiscus tea can reduce blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease risk factors. The recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition in February 2010 supports previous findings.

They found a daily consumption of Hibiscus tea lead to up to a 7% decrease in blood pressure. The quantity drunk was the equivalent to 3 cups of hibiscus tea daily.

What do Hibiscus flowers taste like?

Now Hibiscus flowers by themselves are quite tart and almost sour in flavour – which is why they are used to reduce the sweetness of some blends of fruit teas.  So I think it is easier and more tasty to drink it when it is blended with other fruits and herbs. The Hibiscus flower is commonly found dried in these Fruit Tea blends and is what gives the fruit teas the lovely red/pink colours.

If you want more summaries on previous studies and to find out which of our aaah tea range contain Hibiscus click – aaah tea fruit infusions.

Since it is summer and all the red food is everywhere…

Try making sure you add it into your diet daily – think of plums, cherries, beetroot, red cabbage, tomatoes, strawberries, blackberries…….and of course a yummy hibiscus based fruit iced tea to drink it down with!

………perhaps with a beautiful red Hibiscus flower floating on the top……although watch the ants – they love living in Hibiscus flowers!

Leave a comment below if you have any questions or want further info.

Leanne Pratt created aaah! Nourishing Tea two years ago with her main goal to bring flavour and experience back to teas and infusions, so her customers can have a delicious tasting beverage, while at the same time improving their health! Find a stockist near you: aaah! tea stockists