Agua de Jamaica – Hibiscus Tea [Step-by-Step] (2024)

FAQs

How do you drink hibiscus tea? ›

Simply add dried hibiscus flowers to a teapot and pour boiling water over them. Let it steep for 5 minutes, and then strain, sweeten if desired, and enjoy. Hibiscus tea can be consumed hot or cold and has a tart taste similar to that of cranberries.

By making hibiscus tea a regular drink, you're enhancing your body's own defenses against these diseases. But can you drink this tea on an empty stomach? As per experts, yes, you can! This herbal tea is packed with essential nutrients and antioxidants that can be activated when consumed first thing in the morning.

According to an older review , hibiscus tea may interact with several medications, including acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrochlorothiazide, which is a diuretic. Because hibiscus contains phytoestrogens, it is also possible that it may interfere with hormonal medications, such as the birth control pill.

Hibiscus tea can be made using both fresh or dried flowers. I decided to use them fresh, so I could enjoy the beverage immediately. That said, you can easily make it from dried flowers you purchase from your local tea shop, asian supermarket, or even online.

When taken by mouth: Hibiscus sabdariffa is commonly consumed in foods. It is possibly safe when used in medicinal amounts. Hibiscus sabdariffa tea has been used safely in amounts of up to 720 mL daily for up to 6 weeks. Side effects are uncommon but might include stomach upset, gas, and constipation.

Use with caution if you have low or high blood pressure. Interactions. Hibiscus tea may interfere with the effectiveness of some anti-malaria drugs. It can also interact with many other drugs including some for diabetes and high blood pressure.

Hibiscus is considered safe when consumed in moderate amounts in tea (2 to 4 cups per day) and foods. However, Kristin Draayer, M.S., RDN, advises that high doses can cause toxicity. Draayer also notes that hibiscus may interact with certain medications, especially those used to treat high blood pressure or diabetes.

Although you can drink hibiscus tea anytime throughout the day, the recommended time to drink hibiscus tea is after dinner. This is because hibiscus tea contains flavonoids that will help to lessen the absorption of fats.

More studies are needed but from the info collected, it shows that sipping hibiscus tea for 3 months helped people to lower their body weight and cut down on abdominal fat. Not bad for something so delicious.

Several studies show the potential of hibiscus tea to promote weight loss and prevent obesity. One study showed that hibiscus extract reduced body weight, body fat, and body mass index after 12 weeks.

Is hibiscus tea a laxative? ›

Hibiscus is used for treating loss of appetite, colds, heart and nerve diseases, upper respiratory tract pain and swelling (inflammation), fluid retention, stomach irritation, and disorders of circulation; for dissolving phlegm; as a gentle laxative; and as a diuretic to increase urine output.

When is the best time to drink hibiscus tea and does it make you sleepy? Consuming hibiscus tea makes for an excellent nightcap due to its tart flavor and potential health benefits, and it contains melatonin which may make you sleepier than you were before consuming your tasty beverage.

Some of the medicinal properties of hibiscus flowers include reducing cholesterol and blood pressure, stimulating weight loss, and possibly deterring cancer growth. However, the flowers and roots of the hibiscus plant can also affect estrogen levels, and women should be cautious when using them.

To brew hot hibiscus tea: If your hibiscus came with specific recommendations for brewing, use those. But using about 1 to 2 teaspoons of loose hibiscus flowers or hibiscus herbal tea blend per 8 oz. cup of water is a safe bet. Place the loose flowers or tea blend in an infuser and set the infuser in a teacup.

Bake the hibiscus flower petals for 2-3 hours or until all moisture is gone, and petals are dry and brittle. To dry hibiscus flowers in a food dehydrator, set the dehydrator to around 120 degrees and arrange hibiscus flower petals and orange zest on dehydrator trays.

Hibiscus tea should be steeped in water that's just below boiling (about 200°F). Steep 1 heaping tablespoon of dried hibiscus flowers for 5 minutes. You can use a tea infuser, or strain through a fine mesh strainer over your teacup afterward. Adjust to taste.