Hibiscus, whose beneficial properties and contraindications must be studied before use, is a plant common in Asia and Africa. Otherwise, it is called hibiscus or Sudanese rose. Mostly flower petals are used, which are sold in a dried state and are brewed in the form of tea. It is important to note that you can serve such a drink both in hot and in cold form, while its properties will be slightly different.
If you consider the usefulness of hibiscus, the list will be quite impressive. When hot, the drink is an antipyretic, and due to the high content of citric and ascorbic acids, it fights well with the common cold. So at the first symptoms of this disease or after hypothermia, a cup of hot hibiscus tea, which can add a little honey and ginger to improve the taste and increase the effectiveness of the drug, will not hurt.
If we take into account all the qualities of hibiscus (beneficial properties and contraindications), then, thanks to the same acids, its use should be limited to people with such diseased organs as the stomach, kidneys or liver. Those who suffer from peptic ulcer, it is better to refuse a drink at all. In order to replenish vitamin C in the winter, in addition to tea, you can eat the petals themselves, after they have been in boiling water. From hot water, hibiscus becomes soft. Part of the useful components, of course, goes into the drink, but in the remaining leaves they are quite enough. If you use them with honey, then the taste is quite good.
Those who are trying to fight overweight can also be advised to drink hibiscus.
The beneficial properties and contraindications of hibiscus are often considered in practice by nutritionists. And the drink perfectly cleanses blood vessels and removes heavy metals and other toxins from the body.
How to brew hibiscus. Recipe and Tips
When brewing this drink, do not use metal utensils, because, firstly, it can damage the taste, and secondly, tea, in contact with the container, loses its healing properties. To obtain a more refined aroma, as well as enhance the healing properties, you can add a few spices: ginger, cloves, cinnamon or mint.
For 10 grams of dry hibiscus petals take a glass of liquid. To get the maximum vitamins in the drink, pour tea with cold water and let it brew for several hours, then bring it to a boil and boil no more than 3 minutes. At this stage, you can add spices. Tea is served, draining and pouring into cups. You can add sugar or honey to taste.
For cold use, a drink is prepared in a similar way, but served, having previously cooled. In this case, it is better to pour it into glasses, adding a little ice.
Some use hibiscus to brew tea, mixing it with rose hips or herbs. As a rule, such a recipe is recommended for people who, for health reasons, have a "clean" hibiscus. The beneficial properties and contraindications of such mixed tea are not so pronounced.