Weight-management kitchen
Hibiscus Iced Tea
Please read: These are everyday recipes and drinks that fit a balanced eating pattern. No food, drink or supplement here causes weight loss on its own, and we make no promise of any result. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before changing your diet, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, take medicine (such as diabetes or blood-pressure medicine) or have a medical condition.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
- 16 fl oz (480 ml) water
- Optional: 1 cinnamon stick, ice and a lime wedge
Step by step
- Bring the water to a boil, then turn off the heat.
- Add hibiscus (and cinnamon) and steep 10 minutes.
- Strain, cool and pour over ice with lime.
Traditional and historical use
Hibiscus tea (agua de jamaica in Mexico, karkadé in Egypt and Sudan) is a traditional cooling drink across Africa and the Americas.
What modern research says
Hibiscus has been studied mainly for blood pressure, with some small positive studies; it has not been shown to affect weight.
Safety notes
- May lower blood pressure; ask your doctor if you take blood-pressure medicine.
- Avoid in pregnancy.
- May interact with some medicines, including acetaminophen.