Composition of hibiscus tea
Hibiscus tea is a natural drink prepared from dry raw materials. Its distinctive features are its rich red color and sour taste.
Interesting to know! Hibiscus is essentially not a tea, but an infusion.
Sudanese rose, which is the main component of hibiscus tea, contains a lot of components beneficial to human health:
- Vitamins.
- Carotenoids.
- Flavonoids.
- Iron.
- Tartaric and ascorbic acid.
- Pectin.
- Alimentary fiber.
- Calcium.
- Magnesium.
The benefits and harms of hibiscus tea for blood pressure and other possible ailments depend on the components that hibiscus tea contains.
Calorie content of hibiscus
The benefits of hibiscus tea are noted by its calorie content for people who are watching their weight. This is a dietary drink, as 100 g of it contains only 48 calories. We are talking about dry raw materials.
The finished tea contains no more than 5 calories (drink volume 250 ml). The calorie content of the product increases if you add a small portion of honey or sugar to it.
Calorie content of tea with additives
Each additional ingredient further increases the overall energy value. In addition, if you add dairy products, then do not forget about sugar, the values and calorie content of which were given above.
With milk
100 g of milk contains approximately 64 kcal. In 1 tsp. milk contains about 3 kilocalories. Therefore, if you add a couple of teaspoons of milk to a regular cup of black tea, the total calorie content will be approximately 14-15 units (8 kcal from 200 ml of brewed drink and 6 from milk). If you take the green variety, you get only 8 kcal.
You can use skim milk, 100 g of which contains only 35 kcal, and 1 tbsp. l. – approximately 5 kcal. If you add a tablespoon of such milk to the black variety, then its final value will be about 13 units, and for green varieties this value is 7.
With an increase in the volume of added milk, the overall energy value of the drink will increase.
With cream
The energy value of cream ranges from 118 to 322 kilocalories per 100 g, which depends on its fat content. Therefore, 1 tbsp. l. cream has from 15 to 50 units. Thus, the calorie content of a cup of black tea, to which 1 tablespoon of cream was added, will range from 23 to 59 kcal. In the case of green, you will get from 17 to 52 nutritional units.
With condensed milk
Condensed milk is one of the highest calorie supplements due to its high sugar content. So, 100 g of condensed milk contains 320 kcal, and 1 tsp. This product contains 40 kcal. If you add 2 spoons to a cup, you get 80 units at once.
Therefore, a cup of black tea with 2 teaspoons of condensed milk will have approximately 88 kcal, and a cup of green tea will have 82 kcal.
With honey
Honey is considered a much healthier sweetener when compared to sugar, but its nutritional value is not low. On average, the calorie content of 100 g of honey is 320 kilocalories, and in 1 tbsp. l. There are approximately 64 units of honey. Accordingly, a cup of black tea with a spoon of honey equals 72 kilocalories, and if you take the green variety, then it will have about 66 kcal.
With sugar substitute
As a rule, the calorie content of synthetic sweeteners varies from 15 to 20 kcal per 100 g of product. In terms of 1 serving (tablet) needed to sweeten a cup of drink, the nutritional value is practically zero. If we assume that 1 tablet contains 1-2 kcal, then the final value of a cup of black tea, even with 2 tablets, will be a maximum of 12 calorie units. For the green variety, this value will be about 6 kcal.
A cup of tea without sugar contains zero calories. What will change if you add sugar to tea or drink it with sweets? Watch our video!
Tea does not have a high calorie content, but it must be taken into account that all sorts of high-calorie foods are usually added to it, and the consumption of the resulting drink is not limited to one cup per day. Those who carefully monitor their diet need to reconsider their views on traditional tea drinking.
Health benefits of hibiscus tea
The real benefits and harms of hibiscus tea for men and women depend on its properties.
Note! A drink based on Sudanese rose is actively used for various diseases. Therefore, it can be classified as one of the folk remedies offered by alternative medicine.
The following points reflect the benefits of red hibiscus tea:
- Cleansing the body of harmful substances that can accumulate in it for months.
- Elimination of heartburn.
- Normalization of intestinal function during constipation.
- Strengthening the immune system.
- Reducing blood cholesterol levels.
- Improved skin condition.
- Prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
- Relieving fatigue and tension from the eyes.
Important! The benefits of hibiscus tea are indispensable for colds. The drink also helps to quickly return to normal after a stormy feast.
Decoctions based on Sudanese rose work well in the fight against parasites that can be found in the human body.
What are the benefits of hibiscus tea?
The healing properties of hibiscus tea have been known since ancient times. Due to the high content of vitamins, macro- and microelements, the benefits of drinking Sudanese rose tea are great. How does red tea affect the human body:
- calms, protects against stress, relieves tension and fatigue;
- reduces the risk of colds;
- strengthens the immune system;
- removes waste and toxins;
- strengthens blood vessels;
- restores the functioning of internal organs;
- has diuretic and choleretic properties;
- fights excess weight;
- normalizes blood pressure;
- heals cuts, wounds and trophic ulcers;
- prevents the development of a malignant tumor;
- reduces bad cholesterol.
Advice! Daily use of the healing drink protects against heart attack, stroke, tuberculosis and heart aneurysm.
For women
Thanks to the increased amount of vitamins and mineral supplements, the benefits of hibiscus tea for women are great.
Useful properties of hibiscus for women:
- Healing tea relieves painful symptoms of PMS and reduces the number of hot flashes during menopause.
- Minerals and vitamins can improve skin color, hair and nail structure, which is why hibiscus is often added to shampoos, creams and masks.
- Iced tea relieves fatigue, fights stress, lifts your mood, and fights insomnia (1 tbsp. a few hours before bedtime).
- Sudanese rose strengthens blood vessels and makes them elastic. The decoction develops the nervous system of the fetus, so it is recommended for pregnant women.
For men
Thanks to its healing composition, the benefits of hibiscus tea for men are undeniable, so it can be safely consumed to maintain health.
Useful properties of hibiscus for men:
- Men over 50 often suffer from cardiovascular diseases, but drinking a red drink every day reduces the risk of their occurrence.
- Sudanese rose fights stress, relieves nervous tension, and increases the emotional level.
- Hibiscus decoction relieves physical stress, restores strength and fights fatigue.
- Thanks to its high salt content, hibiscus quickly relieves hangover symptoms.
- Tea increases blood flow, thereby improving sexual activity. It is also recommended for the prevention of prostatitis and prostate adenoma.
The benefits of hibiscus for weight loss
Hibiscus tea, the beneficial properties and contraindications of which are indicated in this article, should be paid attention to by those who want to get rid of excess fat deposits on the body. It launches processes that promote fat burning.
Hibiscus gives the desired result only if the person losing weight adheres to proper nutrition and exercises intensively. Otherwise, you should not expect a positive effect from the tea.
To lose weight, you need to drink red hibiscus tea according to a special scheme:
- For 3 weeks you need to drink a cup of drink three times a day after meals.
- The break lasts 10 days.
- Again, you need to drink tea for 3 weeks.
Following this schedule for taking a drink from Sudanese rose will allow a person who is losing weight to get into shape faster.
The benefits and harms of hibiscus for women when losing weight
Drinking this tea promotes weight loss, especially in combination with exercise and diet. The drink cleanses the gastrointestinal tract, has a laxative effect, removes excess fluid from the body, fights swelling and speeds up metabolism. As a result of these beneficial effects, the body burns excess fat more efficiently.
Read: Benefits of kefir and cinnamon for the body
Magnesium, potassium and vitamin C eliminate bloating. You can lose a few kilograms without exercise or special diets by simply drinking red tea no more than 1 liter per day. If you exceed the daily intake, there is a risk of a significant decrease in blood pressure.
For more effective weight loss, it is recommended to follow a diet and perform special exercises. In this case, only a professional nutritionist should create a diet plan.
Video on the topic:
How to brew hibiscus tea: proven recipes
All the benefits of hibiscus tea are revealed if it is prepared correctly. Today you can find many recipes that allow you to prepare a drink that tastes good.
Classic recipe
All the properties of hibiscus tea reveal themselves after preparing the drink in this way:
- Dry leaves must be placed in a ceramic or glass container.
- After the raw material is poured 1 liter of water, which has been brought to a boil.
- The drink should be infused for about 15 minutes.
You can drink it hot or leave it to cool. Both options are acceptable.
Cold infusion
To get a healthy drink, you need to infuse Sudanese rose for more than an hour. Fill it with water at room temperature.
Advice! It is best to pour hibiscus in the evening so that it can fully infuse overnight.
The longer the tea steeps, the more beneficial it is. Also, its taste becomes as rich as possible.
Hibiscus with cinnamon and citruses
As mentioned earlier, red hibiscus tea helps with colds. Auxiliary components help enhance its healing effect.
To prepare the drink you need to take the following ingredients:
- Hibiscus
- Sugar.
- Water.
- Cinnamon.
- Lemon.
All components must be mixed and then poured with boiling water. It is recommended to heat the drink over low heat for 30 minutes.
How to brew hibiscus tea
Sudanese rose can be brewed cold or hot, but the longer the drink is infused, the more beneficial it will be for the body. The prepared tea is filtered and consumed both chilled and warm. You can add to your tea if you wish:
- aromatic spices;
- sugar;
- honey;
- lemon;
- milk or cream.
Infusion time depends on the preparation method:
- If you brew tea in hot water, it only takes a few minutes to infuse;
- when infused in boiling water, leave the tea for half an hour;
- In cold water, hibiscus needs 2-3 hours to open the petals and release all the nutrients.
Cold way
Tea prepared coldly improves blood composition, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, and removes waste and toxins. It can harm a person suffering from gastritis, stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Recipe:
- boiled water – 1 l;
- dry hibiscus leaves – 15 g;
- green tea – ½ tbsp. l.;
- lemon juice – 100 ml.
Preparation:
- Add all the ingredients to cold water and leave to infuse overnight.
- In the morning, the tea is ready to drink.
- Before taking it, you can drink it chilled or slightly warmed.
Hot hibiscus
To prepare hibiscus tea using the hot method you will need:
- porcelain teapot – 1.5 l;
- sugar – 20 g;
- dry hibiscus petals – 30 g.
How to do it:
- Cold, boiled water is poured into the kettle.
- Add Sudanese rose, sugar and bring to a boil.
- After boiling, reduce the heat to low and leave to simmer for 5-7 minutes.
- During infusion, the petals will release all their beneficial properties, the drink will become thick and acquire a delicate coral color.
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Tea prepared in this way can be consumed cold or hot.
Hibiscus tea with additives
Hibiscus drink can be drunk chilled or warm. Honey, cream, lemon, ginger or cloves are often added to it. When spices are added, tea acquires a rich taste and aroma.
Warming hibiscus tea with ginger brings great benefits to the body:
- in summer it quenches thirst, and in winter it warms;
- strengthens the immune system and central nervous system.
In order not to harm the body, you need to know how to brew tea correctly:
- dried hibiscus flowers – 20 pcs.;
- cinnamon – 2 sticks;
- cloves - 5 buds;
- honey - 6 tbsp. l.;
- water – 1.5 l;
- ginger root – 5 cm.
Preparation:
- Place hibiscus, cloves, cinnamon, peeled and finely chopped ginger root into the container.
- Pour boiling water over and boil for 5-10 minutes over low heat.
- Remove from heat and cover with a lid.
- When the drink has cooled, add honey and remove to infuse.
- After 10 hours, the tea is filtered and drunk cold or warm.
Sudanese rose tea in cosmetology
Sudanese rose has found its application in cosmetology. This is because hibiscus has beneficial properties that have a beneficial effect on the condition of our skin and hair.
Important! Dermatologists recommend paying attention to hibiscus tea for women with oily or combination skin.
A useful plant may be present in creams that have regenerating and restorative properties. The acids in hibiscus perfectly exfoliate the skin and also tighten pores.
Hibiscus is also famous for its antiseptic effect, so it is worth starting to treat skin that has been irritated with it. This same property allows cosmetics manufacturers to add hibiscus to foams and gels, creams and tonics.
How to drink red tea
Experts recommend drinking Sudanese rose tea in the morning. This will help improve body tone and prevent colds. The drink should be consumed 1 hour after breakfast or half an hour before lunch.
Daily norm
For medicinal purposes, it is recommended to drink up to 3 cups of hibiscus per day. Drinking more of the drink can lead to constipation and increased blood pressure.
Is it possible to drink hibiscus before bed?
It is best to avoid drinking red tea 3 hours before bedtime. This is because the drink can cause insomnia.
Does hibiscus tea help you lose weight?
The beneficial properties of hibiscus tea will help a woman lose weight. By consuming the drink correctly, you can lose 2-3 kg in 37 days without dieting or exercising, as the plant normalizes the metabolic process and also removes toxins and waste. In addition, hibiscus reduces appetite.
To achieve the expected result, and not harm the body, you need to drink 1 liter of red tea a day. Exceeding the dosage can cause harm to the body. To get rid of excess weight, you need to use tea according to a specially designed scheme:
- for the first 20 days, drink hibiscus tea daily,
- then, for 7 days, replace hibiscus with green tea in the same amount,
- switch to the red drink again and drink it for 10 days.
If the goal is to lose 5 kg or more, then hibiscus alone will not achieve this result. In this case, it is necessary to adhere to a diet and lead a sports lifestyle while drinking tea.