The Miracle of Hibiscus Tea!

Today – as I do many days – I spent a pleasant moment enjoying hibiscus tea, made from flowers growing in my own yard. Many people have not heard about this side benefit of this gorgeous tropical flower, but hibiscus tea is very good for you and has quite a few significant health benefits.

According to one internet resource, one study was done using adults with pre-hypertension or mild hypertension. Those who had three cups of hibiscus tea a day had better results than those who didn’t (a 7.2 point drop in systolic blood pressure compared to 1.3 points). Those who had the highest blood pressure reading at the start of the study, showed the greatest results.
Drinking a cup of hibiscus tea after meals will reduce the absorption of dietary carbohydrates and will assist in weight loss. It is rich in vitamin C and makes a wonderful herbal remedy to fight off colds and infections by strengthening the immune system. Other benefits of hibiscus tea include preventing bladder infections and constipation if taken regularly.

Fresh hibiscus tea is a bit magical. Watch what happens as I made my cup of tea today. First, I took a couple of red hibiscus flowers, washed them carefully, and steeped them for ten minutes in hot water. I ended up with the delicate purple-hued beverage you see in the above photo. Second, I added a squeeze of lemon, and an amazing thing happened! Although there is most likely some complicated and logical chemical explanation having to do with alkalinity and acidity, the squirt of lemon turned the tea a bright, happy pink! A little stevia sweetener was all it then took to give me a lovely ten minutes of enjoyment as I enjoyed fresh, healthful, hibiscus tea, straight from my own yard.

It is important to remember that you should not use plants that have been treated with chemicals, and if you are using plants from your own garden, make sure you use the right variety of plant and the right parts of the plant.
So, the next time you walk past a hibiscus plant in the garden department of Home Depot, Lowes, or your favorite plant nursery, go ahead and pick up a hibiscus plant or two. You won’t be sorry!