2019-08-01 Eat Well

5 herbal teas

you have to try

Herbal teas are a great way to have your warming drink without

necessarily getting a hit of caff eine and while getting some healing eff ects

at the same time. Here are fi ve herbal teas you are sure to enjoy.

Words / Meg Thompson

T

he explosion of herbal teas on the

market is evidence that the humble

“cuppa” is no longer limited to the

common Camellia sinensis. The

following varieties are teas that not only

taste good, but also deliver a host of

health benefits, taking you from tea break

to self-care.

Hibiscus

Not only devastatingly beautiful, hibiscus

flowers are brimming with polyphenols

that have been enjoyed as part of the diet in

Africa, South-East Asia and many subtropical

places around the world. The sepals —

outer portion of the flower that protects

the petals — are the part that is most used

commercially, and can be found in jams,

juices, jellies, syrups, wines and cakes.

Now, if you’re of my vintage, you may

have visions of giant jarred hibiscus

flowers that were all the rage to add to

your sparkling wine back in the day. This

is not them.

This is the dried preparation of hibiscus

(Hibiscus sabdariffa), whose potent decoction

creates a deep crimson representation of the

very system that it aids. The cardiovascular

system is the primary beneficiary, with

research showing significantly lowered blood

pressure and improved blood vessel function

due to the hit of anti-inflammatory and

antioxidant polyphenols.

Rich in vitamin C, hibiscus contributes to

the health of your skin and immune system,

and may also improve blood glucose levels.

These potent qualities are evident the

moment you open a packet of the dried

sepals, almost making your mouth water

with syrupy, tangy goodness. Equally

delicious prepared as a hot or cold tea,

this gorgeous brew is wonderful with

a sprig of mint, or used as a base for a

warming spiced tonic using other spices

such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and

perhaps a piece of orange rind. You can

also sweeten it with a little honey or maple

syrup as desired.

Rooibos

The South African beauty Aspalathus

linearis, or rooibos as we commonly know

it, has been a welcome feature to tea

shelves everywhere. Translating to “red

bush” in Afrikaans, the brewed tea is

a deep-red hue, and has traditionally been

used for many and varied issues, including

digestive upset and to improve sleep, as

well as topically for burns, eczema and

some allergies.

Known for its high antioxidant capacity,

this delight has a number of evidence-

based benefits, mostly stemming from

its polyphenol content. Recent research

shows, however, that it is primarily the

unfermented (green) rooibos that contains

the enviable polyphenol content in a form

that the human body can absorb. The

antioxidants in the fermented red variety

are not highly bioavailable in humans,

meaning that we may not actually absorb

and enjoy many of the benefits.

Aside from being a wonderful caffeine-

free alternative, rooibos contributes to

improved blood glucose metabolism and

cholesterol balance, reducing the risk of

heart disease. These benefits also show

antidiabetic potential, mostly attributed to

one of the primary antioxidants, aspalathin,

which again is much more abundant in the

green, unfermented variety.

Rooibos’s mild flavour creates the

perfect base for a delicious chai, and is

equally suited to enjoying black, or with

the addition of your favourite dairy or

plant-based milk.

If you are going for the therapeutic

benefits, most studies base their results

on drinking around six cups of rooibos

tea daily. Photography: Getty

76 | EatWell

ARTICLE

herbal teas

EWL026_076-077 FEAT 5 Herbal teas-PR.indd 76EWL026_076-077 FEAT 5 Herbal teas-PR.indd 76 5/08/2019 11:29:31 AM5/08/2019 11:29:31 AM

5 herbal teas

you have to try

Herbal teas are a great way to have your warming drink without

necessarily getting a hit of caff eine and while getting some healing eff ects

at the same time. Here are fi ve herbal teas you are sure to enjoy.

Words / Meg Thompson

T

he explosion of herbal teas on the

market is evidence that the humble

“cuppa” is no longer limited to the

common Camellia sinensis. The

following varieties are teas that not only

taste good, but also deliver a host of

health benefits, taking you from tea break

to self-care.

Hibiscus

Not only devastatingly beautiful, hibiscus

flowers are brimming with polyphenols

that have been enjoyed as part of the diet in

Africa, South-East Asia and many subtropical

places around the world. The sepals —

outer portion of the flower that protects

the petals — are the part that is most used

commercially, and can be found in jams,

juices, jellies, syrups, wines and cakes.

Now, if you’re of my vintage, you may

have visions of giant jarred hibiscus

flowers that were all the rage to add to

your sparkling wine back in the day. This

is not them.

This is the dried preparation of hibiscus

(Hibiscus sabdariffa), whose potent decoction

creates a deep crimson representation of the

very system that it aids. The cardiovascular

system is the primary beneficiary, with

research showing significantly lowered blood

pressure and improved blood vessel function

due to the hit of anti-inflammatory and

antioxidant polyphenols.

Rich in vitamin C, hibiscus contributes to

the health of your skin and immune system,

and may also improve blood glucose levels.

These potent qualities are evident the

moment you open a packet of the dried

sepals, almost making your mouth water

with syrupy, tangy goodness. Equally

delicious prepared as a hot or cold tea,

this gorgeous brew is wonderful with

a sprig of mint, or used as a base for a

warming spiced tonic using other spices

such as cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and

perhaps a piece of orange rind. You can

also sweeten it with a little honey or maple

syrup as desired.

Rooibos

The South African beauty Aspalathus

linearis, or rooibos as we commonly know

it, has been a welcome feature to tea

shelves everywhere. Translating to “red

bush” in Afrikaans, the brewed tea is

a deep-red hue, and has traditionally been

used for many and varied issues, including

digestive upset and to improve sleep, as

well as topically for burns, eczema and

some allergies.

Known for its high antioxidant capacity,

this delight has a number of evidence-

based benefits, mostly stemming from

its polyphenol content. Recent research

shows, however, that it is primarily the

unfermented (green) rooibos that contains

the enviable polyphenol content in a form

that the human body can absorb. The

antioxidants in the fermented red variety

are not highly bioavailable in humans,

meaning that we may not actually absorb

and enjoy many of the benefits.

Aside from being a wonderful caffeine-

free alternative, rooibos contributes to

improved blood glucose metabolism and

cholesterol balance, reducing the risk of

heart disease. These benefits also show

antidiabetic potential, mostly attributed to

one of the primary antioxidants, aspalathin,

which again is much more abundant in the

green, unfermented variety.

Rooibos’s mild flavour creates the

perfect base for a delicious chai, and is

equally suited to enjoying black, or with

the addition of your favourite dairy or

plant-based milk.

If you are going for the therapeutic

benefits, most studies base their results

on drinking around six cups of rooibos

tea daily. Photography: Getty

76 | EatWell

ARTICLE

herbal teas