Paradise Tea – Iced Hibiscus Tea Recipe
For those unfamiliar with hibiscus tea, it is created using natural, dried hibiscus flowers. It is a very popular drink throughout the Caribbean and Latin America, as well as Africa and Asia. Hibiscus tea is very well known for it’s powerful nutrient and antioxidant content, and has been used for many years as a mild medicine known for helping with a variety of ailments.
But, do you wanna know the best part?? It tastes like fruit punch!!
Paradise Tea Recipe
A refreshing and delicious infusion of hibiscus tea, mint and lemon
Paradise isn’t a place. It’s a state of mind, and we all have our own version of what paradise is. We think this tea recipe will help transport you to your own mental utopia 🙂
>exact recipe & directions below
Ingredients
- 64 ounces of water
- 4 Hibiscus Tea Bags – we use Red Zinger by Celestial Seasonings or Hibiscus Superflower Tea by Republic of Tea
- 4 Stevia packets – we use Sweet Leaf Stevia
- 3 fresh lemon slices
- 2 sprigs of fresh mint
Directions
- Place 4 hibiscus tea bags into pitcher
- Add 4 packets of Stevia into pitcher
- Pour 32 ounces of hot water into pitcher and let sit for 5 minutes
- After 5 minutes, add 32 ounces of cool water
- Then, add in the sprigs of mint and the lemon slices. Give it a good stir
- Let the tea sit for at least 2 hours before serving. This time will give the ingredients just enough time to blend all the flavors together.
You can either leave the pitcher out on the counter or refrigerate. And, it’s fine to leave the tea bags, lemon and mint in the pitcher all day – It won’t over power the taste. Actually, the longer the tea sits the better it tastes.. just don’t let it sit for over 2 days.. it is meant to be enjoyed fresh!
Serve in a glass with a few fresh ice cubes. Paradise Tea is great for serving at parties, enjoying on the beach, lounging by the pool or as something healthy to just sip on throughout the day. Enjoy!
Hibiscus Tea Popularity
Hibiscus tea has been around for centuries, enjoyed by people all across the globe, each with their own brewing style and recipe. Hot, cold, sweet, tangy – there are many, many different recipes for this powerful super flower.
In Africa, it is widely sold in the street markets and restaurants, served hot or cold, and is often flavored with mint or ginger. It is a traditional custom in many African cultures to serve hibiscus tea at weddings.
In the Caribbean and Central America, hibiscus tea is known as: Agua de Flor de Jamaica or Agua de Jamaica, which translates to Jamaica Water. Here the tea is served both hot and cold, and is often brewed with cinnamon, cloves, ginger, sugar and nutmeg.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Researchers have just begun to unravel some of the far reaching health benefits that hibiscus tea has and the results are shocking!!
Hibiscus tea is known to help with:
- Decreasing inflammation
- Weight management
- Improving liver health
- Improving kidney health
- Detoxifying the body
- Decreasing hypertension
- Lowering blood pressure
- Fighting off toxic, disease-causing free radicals
- Dehydration
> Super Fact – Research has shown that drinking 2 cups of hibiscus tea a day over the course of a month lowers blood pressure. Research has also shown that taking concentrated hibiscus in pill form is the equivalent to taking the prescription blood pressure medicine Captopril.
Hibiscus Tea Nutrition Info
Packed with Vitamin C & Antioxidants
Vitamin C
About 25% of the hibiscus plant is made up of healthy acids, such as: citric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, in addition to alkaloids, anthocyanins and quercetin.
These chemical properties are what give hibiscus it’s powerful vitamin C composition. Vitamin C is an essential part of a healthy diet, as it aids in the growth, development and repair of cells and tissues, as well as being a great immune system strengthener to fight against viruses and bacteria (ie. colds).
Antioxidants
> Super fact – Hibiscus tea has the highest antioxidant content of any beverage, even higher than green tea!
Antioxidants are substances that protect your cells from potential damage, specifically from free radicals, which are known to cause premature aging and cancers.
Make It A Daily Ritual
Our Paradise Tea recipe calls for you to make a large batch, either in the morning or at night (steeping overnight), and to enjoy the tea for the rest of the day. This is a great option for those of you who don’t like drinking plain water, as the naturally sweet taste will help you to keep drinking throughout the day.
For the ultimate hydration mix, I suggest alternating between Paradise Tea and my Fountain of Youth Water throughout the week. Both are great options to keep your water intake high throughout the day – great for your brightening and hydrating your skin, increasing energy levels, assisting in fat loss and improving your immune system.
Drink this, and your body will glow from the inside out…I promise 😉
PS – check out my new ebook – The Fit Body Way Nutrition Guide & Cookbook! It is the nutrition plan that I’ve had in practice with my personal training clients for over 10 years! Include 100+ healthy, delicious recipes that are simple to prepare and budget friendly!