Have you tried hibiscus tea? Imagine a beverage that benefits your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol, and offers properties that fight against cancer and inflammation. Studies are proving this to be true about hibiscus. It is full of antioxidants, anthocyanins, and flavinoids. The NIH published a study showing how hibiscus benefited blood pressure and cardio health. In 2022, they also published a study explaining how hibiscus helps to fight diabetes. Those studies are literally the tip of the iceberg. There are countless others. Read on for a simple, and healthy, hibiscus tea recipe that all ages from young to old will enjoy.
Three Simple Ingredients
Hibiscus Tea + Water + Optional Sweetener of your Choice = A refreshing drink offering a range of health benefits.
Organic Hibiscus Tea
Let’s face it, humans are bombarded with pesticides, preservatives, GMOs, insecticides, hormones, additives, dyes, etc. these days. Organic hibiscus tea is a welcomed break from the toxins listed above. If you’re going to experience the benefits of this amazing tea, why not buy organic? FGO organic hibiscus tea is a favorite tea of many.
Optional Sweeteners
For those who enjoy a little sweetness, there are healthier alternatives to mainstream sweeteners.
Honey
Who doesn’t love honey? The NIH offers a clinical review of honey and health. In it, they state, “The ingredients of honey have been reported to exert antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, anticancer, and antimetastatic effects. Many evidences suggest the use of honey in the control and treatment of wounds, diabetes mellitus, cancer, asthma, and also cardiovascular, neurological, and gastrointestinal diseases. Honey has a potential therapeutic role in the treatment of disease by phytochemical, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties.”
Prior to chilling, I like to stir honey into my steeped tea. Start with less, and add more until you reach the desired sweetness.
Raw Unbleached Sugar
One of my children developed an allergy to honey after a bee sting. He’s no longer a teenager, and while I don’t have control over his food and drink preferences, I do have a significant influence. I’ve explained countless times the benefits of healthy food and beverage choices now, to set him up for good health in his future. I make his hibiscus tea, and sweeten it with raw, unbleached sugar. I keep it chilled in the fridge for him. He loves it!
Sugar in the Raw, organic cane sugar, is a great alternative to bleached sugar. Another alternative is Akenton Raw Cane Sugar.
Stevia
Stevia is made from the leaves of the stevia plant, and it is a wonderful sugar substitute. It has almost no calories, and yet it’s much sweeter than regular sugar. You can buy stevia in a liquid form or dissovle stevia granules in your tea.
Iced Hibiscus Tea Recipe
1 Quart of boiling water + 3 Hibiscus Tea Bags
Steep for at least an hour. I like to steep my tea for several hours. Extensive steeping won’t make hibiscus tea bitter. Instead, it remains tart and smooth.
Sweeten with your favorite sweetner.
Chill.
Enjoy and serve up happiness!
More to come!
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