Health benefits of drinking hibiscus tea

Rising to fame in rectent times hibiscus tea is a deep red or magenta-coloured herbal tea, served hot or cold, and made by infusing water from the crimson/deep magenta sepal (part of the flower) of the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) plant, which is native to Sudan in West Africa. It’s also known as sorell in Belize, Barbados, Dominica, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad & Tobago, or red sorelle in the wider Caribbean. In the US, Mexico and Central America it’s agua, rosa de Jamaica or just Jamaica, or zobo or bissap in other West African countries (except Cameroon, where it’s folere). It can be made from fresh flowers, dried flowers or even tea bags or concentrates.

Blood pressure

In 2015, a meta-analysis was published which found that drinking hibiscus tea regularly made a significant difference to both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but recommended further studies to confirm.

Another study, in 2010, compared people consuming 3 servings of hibiscus tea (or a placebo) daily over a 6 week period. Those who drank the hibiscus tea showed a significant reduction in their systolic blood pressure compared to those who drank the placebo. This was only a small study that contained 65 participants, however.

Antioxidants

Rich in antioxidants, which help to reduce free radicals in your system. This helps to keep your skin more elastic and reduce early wrinkles, inflammation, and your risk of general illness. Studies have also associated the damage to your body from free radicals to be associated with a range of other conditions, including dementia and cardiovascular disease.

Nutrition

Hibiscus tea is high in vitamin C, and low in sugar (though people often add sweeteners, as it has a sharp or tart flavour, not unlike cranberry – consider agave syrup). Vitamin C supports your immune system.

In addition, hibiscus tea is high in iron, which is essential in the production of red blood cells, and vitamin C helps the body absorb iron.

Sugar cravings and weight loss

It’s not uncommon to crave something sweet after dinner – Great if dessert is in the fridge and looks good, but not so good if you’re trying to lose weight! By drinking hibiscus tea, with its tart taste, you can reduce or dispel that craving, by removing the taste of the savoury food which is a trigger. It also aids with digestion, as it’s a natural diuretic, helping to avoid the moisture and gas building up in your digestive system.

It’s also a caffeine free, sugar free way to increase your hydration, which aids weight loss by helping fat burn, and helps to keep you regular.

Please note, however, that if you’re pregnant (or trying to get pregnant) you shouldn’t consume hibiscus tea, as it can affect your estrogen levels.

In addition, let your doctor know you drink it if you’re prescribed new medication, as it may interact with some drugs or other compounds. It can interact badly with hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic taken by people with high blood pressure, stopping it working correctly, for example.