Hibiscus Tea
Agua de Jamaica
I was cooking with my good friend Diane this evening, making a vegan mung bean soup (look for the recipe in a future blog). As we were cooking, she made a batch of Hibiscus tea, and it really hit the spot. It has a tart flavor, similar to that of cranberry, so it's a nice "pick-me-up" after a day of teaching. But it's also crisp, sweet and refreshing.
I got to know this delicious and refreshing drink on one of my trips to Mexico. I've enjoyed it many times over the years, but I had no idea how easy it is to make. Thanks to Diane for showing me. It turns out that it's not only delicious and simple, it also has some great health benefits.
Recipe
1. Purchase hibiscus flowers.
2. Grab a healthy handful and place them into about 2.5 cups of boiling water.
3. Allow them to boil for about 10 minutes, until the water is a beautiful dark purple color.
4. Strain the water into a pitcher or large water bottle.
5. Add an organic vegan sugar to taste.
6. Shake or stir with ice and add additional sugar or water to taste.
Health Benefits
Hibiscus tea is naturally calorie and caffeine free, but it has a number of other possible health benefits:
1. Packed with antioxidants, which fight cell-damaging free radicals.
2. May lower blood pressure & blood fat levels, therefore lowering the risk of heart disease.
3. May increase liver health & keep it working efficiently.
4. May help reduce body weight and body fat.
5. Has a high polyphenol content, which have been shown to have cancer-fighting properties.
6. May help fight bacterial infections.
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