Tea Time with Natasha in Oz ~ Hibiscus Tea is so Important for our Health and Wellbeing.

G'Day sweet friends! Thanks so much for joining me for another Tea Time post.

Tea, Tea Time with Natasha in Oz, hibiscus tea, blood pressure, hypertension, Hibiscus Iced Tea, health and wellbeing, Natasha In Oz, herbal tea, tisane

One of my favourite parts of the day is at around 2:30 in the afternoon when I have a quiet cup of tea in peace before the kids get home from school.

One of my favourite teas is Hibiscus Tea. It is a herbal tea or tisane made from hibiscus flowers and it possesses a number of therapeutic benefits.

We originally started drinking hibiscus tea when Mr Attorney was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Many specialists recommended hibiscus tea because of the research that showed that it could help lower blood pressure for people with hypertension.

Research has shown that hibiscus tea can also help diabetics with mild to moderate hypertension to lower their blood pressure and is an excellent source of Vitamin C. The Chung Shan Medical University in Taiwan also found that the tea induced cell death in 8 different kinds of cancer cells - most effectively in human gastric carcinoma cells. It is also a natural diuretic helping to rid the body of excess water and prevent temporary bloating.

Diane L. McKay, PhD, assistant professor in the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, found that drinking hibiscus tea can reduce systolic blood pressure.

The infusion is made from deep magenta-coloured calyces, the delicate under-petal parts of the Hibiscus sabdariffa flower. Also referred to as the rosella flower here in Australian, it is full of antioxidants which can assist the body in neutralizing the negative effects of free radicals, slow down the aging processes, protect against cancer and improve general health.

It is a bright crimson brew that is a little bit tart and a little sweet and it can be drunk hot or cold.

To make a large quantity of this delicious brew use 2 heaped tablespoons of hibiscus tea to every 4 cups of boiling water. Infuse your hibiscus in the hot water for about 10 minutes. Taste for strength and steep more if you prefer. I like to drink my tea just like this but if you would like to turn this concoction into Hibiscus Iced Tea, add some honey, agave, simple syrup or your sweetener of choice with some lemon or lime juice, and a cinnamon stick. You could even add a dash of rum for a real Jamaican twist!

"I put hibiscus flower in every cup of tea I have. It's sweet, sexy, and cleansing."
Mario Batali, American chef, writer, and restaurateur

A cup of hibiscus tea is a delicious and effective way to increase your antioxidant intake so if you see it at your grocery store, health food shop or specialist retailer I hope you might buy some, try it and let me know what you think!

Tea Time with Natasha in Oz ~ Why is Hibiscus Tea so Important for our Health and Wellbeing?

Many thanks for visiting me today. I hope that your day is wonderful that you might find a spare moment to come back again tomorrow for this weekend's Sundays Down Under Linky Party, my weekly link up for recipes, tutorials, DIY projects, gardening tips, instagram pics, Pinterest Round Up Posts, your linky parties...anything at all!