I don’t know how you feel about winter, but I am already tired of it. I want spring to come already, but we live in Minnesota and it is only February, so there is no chance for warmer weather for another few months.
Because winters are so long around here, I have a huge collection of teas to keep me warm. Herbal teas are my favorite teas to drink. I love the fragrance of the plants and sometimes I just go in the pantry and sniff some of my favorite teas(I know, I am weird!), especially the ones that remind me of summer. I love Linden tea, a tea that I grew up with, or that special tea I treasure in a metal box, a combination of flowers, quince, apples and blueberries I brought from an obscure village in France last year… Oh my! How I love that tea!
However, today I am sharing with you another favorite, a popular tea that is consumed wildly in Mexico and not only, the famous Hibiscus flower tea, or Te de Jamaica in Spanish. If you are familiar with the Mexican cuisine, you probably know that this tea is also called Agua De Jamaica and it is a basic drink that everyone in Mexico enjoys.
This tea is an amazing tea to drink all year around. Warm in the winter, cold served with ice in the summer, Hibiscus flower tea has a tart, cranberry-like flavor, so sugar or honey can be added to sweeten it.
Doing some research about the plant, I learned that it also has amazing health benefits. Apparently it is very rich in vitamin C. It acts like a diuretic, which makes it great for people who retain water. Also it has a calming effect on the entire digestive system and it is good for mild anxiety.
During the summer, the tea can be consumed with ice, but in the winter it is recommended hot. I like it though with cinnamon. Cinnamon is a warming spice, which is perfect during the cold season. It is also known that cinnamon lowers the blood sugar, so mixing it with the Hibiscus flowers, is a win-win situation and a wonderful treat.
HOW TO MAKE HIBISCUS FLOWER TEA WITH CINNAMON:
You will need:
Water
Optional: Honey , sugar or stevia
Bring the water, Hibiscus flowers and cinnamon to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low. Simmer the tea for about 5 minutes.
Remove from the heat and let it infuse for few minutes. Strain and add the honey or stevia. Drink hot or refrigerate and serve later on ice.
Note: If you use raw honey, do not add it during the boiling process, it destroys the properties of the honey.
Enjoy! As you can see, it is very easy to make! The tea has a beautiful color that is very inviting and in the summer it is a great option for replacing that pop(soda) we all try to get away from.
See you next time!
- 12 cups water
- 1 cup dried Hibiscus flowers
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ cup honey
- Place the water in a pot together with the Hibiscus flowers and the cinnamon sticks.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Strain the tea, remove the cinnamon sticks.
- Add the honey. Mix well and taste.
- Serve warm or refrigerate for later use.
- If you drink it cold, serve it with ice.
Leave a Reply