August 21st, 2024

Mexican Agua Fresca- Flor de Jamaica: refreshing and healthy

I must confess, not everyone is a fan of this summertime drink in my house. But that’s okay! This drink reminds me of the tartness that you get with cranberry juice but combined with the lime, agave sugar and spices, it rounds out the taste profile nicely.

The drink is relatively easy to make, and has some amazing nutritional benefits. For me, it’s a wonderful alternative to sugary, processed drinks.

In traditional Chinese medicine, hibiscus leaves are used to topically treat herpes zoster, also known as shingles or a recurrence of chickenpox. (1) In folk medicine, hibiscus has been used for treatments that needed a diuretic or mild laxative. (2) Other parts of the world have historically used this plant as a medicine. In Malaysia and Indonesia, leaves were used to cool fevers soothe coughs and remove phlegm, whereas fresh buds were chewed and swallowed for dry throat. Polynesians used this plant during birth, using the inner bark that contained sap and rubbing this on the stomach. (3)

This drink has no caffeine, and contains Calcium, Magnesium, Phosphorous, Potassium, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. (3)

Several studies have also shown that hibiscus tea was effective in lowering blood pressure in those with stage 1 hypertension. The same studies have shown a reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. * (4)

A very small study was done in 2014, which found that those who suffer from obesity had improved liver steatosis (characterized by the accumulation of fat in the liver) by taking hibiscus extract for 12 weeks. (3) More studies need to be made for the links between hibiscus and liver health to be clearer, however, what research has been done has suggested that hibiscus tea and extract could promote liver health.

What I find the most amazing about this drink is the amount of studies that have been done to correlate the benefits of drinking hibiscus tea and certain cancer prevention. Hibiscus is high in polyphenols, and evidence shows that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables can lower the risk of certain cancers- this being attributed to polyphenols. (4)

Who should not try Aqua de Jamaica?

Pregnant women should not drink hibiscus tea or take hibiscus products, as it could induce “emmenagogue effects.” Hibiscus tea could stimulate blood flow to the uterus, causing early labor, cramping, bleeding and contractions. In addition, this tea contains phytoestrogens that may cause hormone level fluctuations, which could be unsafe in pregnancy. (3) (2)

Before making any choices concerning hibiscus tea, please speak with your primary care physician especially if you currently take hypertension or blood pressure medications. Avoid use if you are allergic or sensitive to it or members of the Malvaceae plant family.

How to Make Aqua de Jamaica

2 cups (90g) Dried hibiscus flowers

2 liters (~8½ cups) of water (use 1 liter at a time to extract concentrate)

*1 cinnamon stick (7g) -optional

*1 small start anise pod – optional

*1 teaspoon ground clove in an empty tea bag

*1 teaspoon ground nutmeg in an empty tea bag

*1 1/2 Cup Agave Sugar

3 cups (705ml/24oz) water

6 Limes- 3 cut in wedges and 3 cut into disks

Put the dried hibiscus flowers in a strainer, and run under cool water to rinse. Once done, add them to a stock pot. Add 1 liters of water, and optional cinnamon stick, anise pod and bags of ground clove and nutmeg. Heat on a medium heat setting until it is boiling. Turn heat off and let the mixture steep for 30 minutes. With a strainer, take out the hydrated hibiscus flower mix, and set aside the concentrate in a container to cool.

Take the hydrated hibiscus flower mix and re add this to the stock pot and add the second liter of water. Heat on a medium heat setting again until it’s boiling. Add in the agave sugar and stir. Turn heat off and this time, let the mixture steep for one hour. With a strainer, take out the hydrated hibiscus flower mix and discard.

Combine the concentrate in the desired drink container and add in 3 cups of water and all of the limes that are cut into disks and top with ice. The lime wedges that are cut are for optional garnish.

Research & Resources

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK92761

https://www.drugs.com/npp/hibiscus.html

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4967069

https://wedmd.com/diet/hibiscus-tea-is-it-good-for-you https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6621350 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24549255 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4997428 https://healthline.com/health/pregnancy/hibiscus-tea-pregnancy#safety