Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea that's produced by steeping parts of the hibiscus plant in boiling water.
It includes a tart flavor similar to that of cranberries and could be enjoyed both hot and cold.
There are several hundred species of hibiscus varying by the place and climate they grow in, but Hibiscus sabdariffa is most commonly used to create hibiscus tea.
Research has uncovered a range of health benefits linked to drinking hibiscus tea , showing that it could lower blood pressure, fight bacteria and even aid weight loss.
This article reviews benefits of drinking hibiscus tea.
Packed With Antioxidants
Antioxidants are molecules that help fight compounds called free radicals, which cause injury to your cells.
Hibiscus tea is abundant with powerful antioxidants and may therefore help prevent damage and disease brought on by the buildup of free radicals.
In one study in rats, hibiscus extract increased the amount of antioxidant enzymes and reduced the harmful aftereffects of free radicals by up to 92% (1Trusted Source).
Another rat study had similar findings, showing that parts of the hibiscus plant, like the leaves, possess potent antioxidant properties (2Trusted Source).
However, keep in mind that they were animal studies that used concentrated doses of hibiscus extract. More studies are expected to ascertain how antioxidants in hibiscus tea may affect humans.
May Help Lower Blood Pressure
One of the most impressive and well-known benefits of hibiscus tea is that it may lower blood pressure.
As time passes, high blood pressure can place extra pressure on the heart and make it weaken. High blood pressure can be associated with an increased threat of cardiovascular disease (3Trusted Source).
Several studies have discovered that hibiscus tea may lower both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
In a single study, 65 people who have high blood pressure received hibiscus tea or perhaps a placebo. After six weeks, those who drank hibiscus tea had an important decrease in systolic blood pressure, compared to the placebo (4Trusted Source).
Similarly, a 2015 overview of five studies found that hibiscus tea decreased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure by typically 7.58 mmHg and 3.53 mmHg, respectively (5Trusted Source).
While hibiscus tea can be a safe and natural way to simply help lower blood pressure, it's not recommended for those taking hydrochlorothiazide, a type of diuretic used to treat high blood pressure, as it can talk with the drug (6Trusted Source).