Hibiscus Fruit Punch—A Healthy Alternative Summer Drink

It’s summer time—the kids are home from school…it’s hot outside…everyone is thirsty…and you want to give your kids and family something healthy to drink instead of the chemical-laden Kool Aid and fruit drinks available from the supermarket. Well, guess what—you are so fortunate because the hibiscus are also in bloom, and I have fallen completely in love with Hibiscus Tea and Hibiscus Fruit Punch.

So this blog post is all about stirring up some delicious, healthy Hibiscus Fruit Punch to have ready when your kids come in all sweaty and clamoring for “something cool to drink”! I remember growing up as a kid in hot, humid Florida and playing outside until I was so thirsty I couldn’t stand it anymore. Sad to say, I often just grabbed the garden hose and took a drink—definitely not the healthiest thing to do. But I have an even better memory of going inside and opening the refrigerator door to find a big, cold pitcher of my Dad’s homemade Ice Tea. If you live in the South, you know all about Sweet Tea. My Dad had his own recipe, which was less sappy sweet than the usual sweet tea.

As an adult, I’ve loved having iced tea around to drink. I’ve gotten even more enamored with fresh peppermint tea and all its healthy benefits than with the usual black tea. But lately I’ve discovered something even better—Hibiscus Tea and/or Fruit Punch. It tastes just as delicious and wonderful as the beautiful hibiscus blooms looked growing on the bushes that grew in my backyard as a kid.

Before I tell you how I make my Hibiscus Tea/Punch, let me give you a few of the health benefits of hibiscus tea.

Hibiscus Tea Benefits

There is nothing more relaxing to me than pouring a tall glass of hibiscus tea, sitting on my front porch, and enjoying the moment of relaxation after a long hard day on the farm. I love the tart, cranberry-like flavor and like to just a bit of Stevia or raw honey to sweeten it up a bit.

Hibiscus tea is very healthy. Only the calyx is used for hibiscus tea. And although there are more than 200 varieties of hibiscus plants, not all of them are used for tea or healing. The traditional hibiscus tea plant has yellow flowers and a red center (Hibiscus sabdariffa). I’ll give you a suggestion for where to purchase your hibiscus tea below when I give you a recipe.

Hibiscus tea is loaded with antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and zinc. It is packed full of omega-3 and omega-6. It’s also a great source of protein and dietary fiber. In the chart below you will find 10 health benefits for Hibiscus Tea.

Health Benefit	Information
1. Reduces high blood pressure	Helps to lower systolic blood pressure
2. Helps lower cholesterol	Antioxidants may lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
3. It is beneficial for diabetics	It can lower both cholesterol levels and blood pressure in type 2 diabetes
4. Offers liver protection	A research study found the anthocyannins in hibiscus tea can reduce inflammatory liver lesions and oxidative liver damage
5. Anti-cancer properties	The protocatechuic acid in hibiscus tea has strong anti-tumor properties
6. Help relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression	It calms the nervous system and helps to put people in a positive mind frame.
7. Benefits weight loss	It is low in calories, and is a diuretic herb that helps flush toxins and excess fluids in the body.
8. Improves digestion	The diuretic properties help treat constipation and improve the strength of the gastrointestinal system.
9. Helps boost the immune system	The high amount of vitamin C is a great immune booster and can help prevent colds and flu.
10. Helps improve skin conditions	The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties help treat various skin problems.1

Precaution: Don’t combine hibiscus tea with Tylenol or any other drug containing acetaminophen. The diuretic effect of the beverage can speed up the release of acetaminophen from the body.

Making Delicious Hibiscus Tea

You can make hibiscus fruit punch by using dried organic hibiscus flowers, organic hibiscus powder, or you can purchase organic hibiscus tea bags to use. I’ll give you a basic recipe for each methods. You can purchase each of these products online, and it is important that you do your own research to be sure you are getting the pure hibiscus sabdariffa flower, and that it is certified organic. Some hibiscus flowers are grown intercropped with peanuts, and could be risky for individuals with severe peanut allergies. I recommend Starwest Botanicals Organic Hibiscus Flowers Tea Cut, found here. 

If you prefer using Hibiscus Tea Powder, you may want to try the Starwest Botanicals Organic Hibiscus Flower Powder, found here. 

There are several organic Hibiscus Tea Bags available. Some of the ones I like best include:

• Davidson’s Tea Hibiscus Flower Tea Bags (just hibiscus flowers)
• Organic Hibiscus Tea Alvita Tea Bags (available at Wal-Mart)
• Traditional Medicines Hibiscus Flower Tea Bags

Recipe for Hibiscus Fruit Punch 

Ingredients:

• 6 cups water
• 1 cup of orange juice 
• 1 cup of lemonade or the juice of 1-2 lemons
• 2-3 fresh mint leaves 
• 1/4 cup of raw honey
• few drops of banana extract
• 1 cup of dried hibiscus flowers

Directions: In a large pot, bring the water to a boil. Stir in the honey and dissolve. Add the hibiscus flowers and mint and then remove from heat. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Remove the hibiscus flowers by filtering through a cheesecloth or tea filter or use a slotted spoon and scoop out the flowers. 

Add the orange juice, lemonade, and banana extract to a pitcher. Then add in your hibiscus tea. Cool in the fridge for a few hours and then serve! 

Your kids will love it! 

Recipe for Hibiscus Fruit Punch from Hibiscus tea bags. – Follow the directions above and use 4 bags of hibiscus tea in place of the flowers. 

Your summer Hibiscus Fruit Punch is going to be super healthy and tasty, and it contains a high antioxidant count. It’s so simple to make, your kids will love it, and you will relish a quiet, relaxing moment with your glass of Hibiscus Fruit Punch. Try it…I guarantee you are going to love it!

Sources

1. https://www.doctorshealthpress.com/food-and-nutrition-articles/hibiscus-tea-benefits.
2. https://www.produceonparade.com/produce-on-parade/hibiscus-fruit-punch-an-antioxidant-powerhouse.
3. https://www.spicejungle.com/the-jungle/hibiscus-iced-tea-recipe.
4. https://obedientingredients.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/antioxidant-fruit-punch/.