In the mood to try something new? Hibiscus tea could be your new culinary adventure. It has amazing health benefits, great taste and is an unprocessed or “whole” food. While you may be familiar with green tea and its advantages, hibiscus tea is a worthy contender for your taste buds’ attention.
Free-radical fighter
When the calyx and petals from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. are steeped, the tea is a deep ruby-red color with a tart flavor, similar to cranberry. (The calyx is the flower part protecting the bud before bloom.) The color comes from compounds called anthocynins, found in many red and purple fruits and vegetables. Chemicals from plants known as flavonoids, including anthocynins, help our body destroy free radicals, molecules whose instability can damage our cells.
Free radicals can be left over from the process of metabolism. Metabolism is a large group of functions and chemical processes that turn our food into energy. They can also enter from the outside, some in the form of cigarette smoke, pollution, alcohol - even sunlight! (Cleveland Clinic).
Tart and talented
Hibiscus tea may be beneficial in managing several non-communicable diseases (NCDs). In our time of modern medicine, chronic NCDs are estimated to cause over 70% of deaths worldwide (Villagrán et al., 2022). They include type 2 diabetes, lung disease, high cholesterol and/or high triglycerides, arteriosclerosis and hypertension.
In addition to antioxidant properties, researchers have also found the compounds in hibiscus tea contribute to lower blood pressure and blood sugar, weight and blood glucose management, as well as lower cholesterol and triglycerides. They appear to have protective benefits for the kidneys and guard against anemia (Villagrán).
Steeped in tradition
Hibiscus sabdariffa has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and the plant is native to India and Malaysia. It’s now grown all over the world in subtropical and tropical climates. The calyxes are used in both food and herbal medicine.
While some may never enjoy its tart flavor, hibiscus can also be found in capsule form as a supplement. It’s crucial to recognize that traditional medicines can have side effects and can also interact with prescription pharmaceuticals; check with your primary care provider before beginning a supplement regimen.
Tea for two, two for tea
The amount of tea and other forms of Hibiscus sabdariffa and its compounds varied among the experiments, and tea portions ranged from 150 to 500 mL twice a day. While you may not be able to imagine drinking that much hibiscus tea daily, it’s important to remember “lack of evidence of benefit does not mean absence of benefit (Carl Sagan).” It makes sense that smaller amounts could, in fact, have benefits yet undiscovered.
References
McKay, D. L., Chen, C. O., Saltzman, E., & Blumberg, J. B. (2010). Hibiscus Sabdariffa L. Tea (Tisane) Lowers Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive and Mildly Hypertensive Adults, , ,. The Journal of Nutrition, 140(2), 298-303. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.109.115097
Villagrán, Z., Elena, L., Alberto, M., Martín, J., Ignacio, R., Acosta, J. L., & Miguel, L. (2022). Physiological Effects and Human Health Benefits of Hibiscus sabdariffa: A Review of Clinical Trials. Pharmaceuticals, 15(4), 464. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph15040464
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