Taking a look at the pros & cons of drinking Hibiscus Tea, which is an ancient healing modality with a handful of great health benefits. Also sharing my go-to hibiscus tea brand, where to buy, & the side effects/risks involved.
I have always been an avid tea drinker & found a brand called Pique over two years ago, which originally introduced me to hibiscus tea. Immediately, I was so impressed with the many benefits of drinking hibiscus tea & was so happy to find a company who prioritizes high quality, flavorful tea that’s free of toxins.
While I was researching reasons to start drinking hibiscus tea, I also came across some really interesting side effects of hibiscus tea. I had zero idea that while hibiscus tea is great for some people, there are also individuals who should avoid it at all costs! Because of this, I wanted to share a little more about the pros & cons of hibiscus tea for those who are looking to learn more like I was!
The Pros & Cons of Hibiscus Tea
Is hibiscus tea good for you?
Hibiscus tea, derived from the hibiscus sabdariffa plant, is a vegan & low-calorie tea that can be enjoyed either hot or cold. It has a delicious flavor that can be described as a perfect balance of being both sweet & sour & can be a beautiful addition to your wellness routine. The healing & beautifying properties of hibiscus flowers dates back to ancient times.
There are several pros & cons of hibiscus tea, which I’ll share below! Many people enjoy drinking hibiscus tea due to tremendous health benefits. But with that said, there are also people who should NOT consume hibiscus tea, which is extremely important to note. So yes, while hibiscus tea might be good for you, it might not be good for someone else & vice versa. It depends on the individual person & their current state of health. You’ll want to keep reading for the full list of hibiscus tea pros & cons!
What Hibiscus Tea do I drink & why?
I have been drinking an amazing hibiscus tea, specially this Hibiscus Beauty Elixir for over two years now, from a brand called Pique! Pique creates their award-winning hibiscus tea by using hibiscus plants called Egyptian hibiscus, which is pleasantly tart & refreshing. You’ll notice Pique on my list of safe teas. I really admire the rigorous screening they conduct to ensure their teas are free of pesticides, toxic mold, & heavy metals. All three are unfortunately very common in tea. Pique’s Hibiscus Beauty Elixir is also USDA Certified Organic.
Pique’s Hibiscus Beauty Elixir – Shop here!
- Ingredients – Organic Hibiscus, Organic Mint, Organic Licorice Root
- No added anything – free of preservatives, sugar, & artificial sweeteners
- Caffeine-Free
- Easy to make – No steeping required!
- Triple Screened – for pesticides, toxic mold, & heavy metals
- Supports cellular health & a restful night’s sleep
- Naturally high in Vitamin-C
The Pros & Cons of Drinking Hibiscus Tea
Health Benefits of Drinking Hibiscus Tea:
There are many amazing health benefits of hibiscus tea! I will list a handful of the benefits below, but just to get started, hibiscus tea is super high in antioxidants that help neutralize free radicals & repair cell damage. Hibiscus tea can help boost your immune system, boost liver health, support a healthy digestive system & metabolism. It’s also known to be amazing for skin health thanks to a high content of Vitamin C! Additionally, sipping on hibiscus tea, which is known for its potential benefits in promoting heart health, can improve good cholesterol levels!
Pros of Drinking Hibiscus Tea:
- Anti-bacterial properties
- High in antioxidants
- People with high blood pressure can experience lower blood pressure (both systolic & diastolic blood pressure)
- Immune boosting
- Boosts heart health
- May reduce cholesterol levels, which is a risk factor for heart disease
- May contain cancer fighting properties
- Supports liver health
- Can aid in digestion
- Supports a healthy metabolism (great if you’re struggling to reduce body weight & body fat)
- Menstrual cramp relief
- Calming
- Great for your skin
Side Effects of Drinking Hibiscus Tea:
There are some people who might experience negative side effects from drinking hibiscus tea & that should not be taken lightly. As always, I am NOT a doctor & advise you to check with your doctor prior to incorporating hibiscus tea into your routine, especially if you are currently taking medication. Drinking hibiscus tea has the ability to interact with medications, which is something to be very mindful of.
Hibiscus tea can cause a decrease in blood pressure, both systolic & diastolic blood pressure, which can become an issue if you already have low blood pressure. It may also cause a decrease in blood glucose, & may affect estrogen levels, which means it can also affect menstrual cycles. Hibiscus tea should be avoided if you are trying to conceive, pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you’re on hormonal birth control. Again, always always check with your doctor or OB-GYN before you start drinking hibiscus tea.
Cons of Drinking Hibiscus Tea:
- Can lower blood pressure
- Can cause a decrease in blood glucose
- May induce menstruation & or influence menstruation cycles
- Has the ability to affect estrogen levels, which is important to note if you are currently pregnant, trying to conceive, breastfeeding, or on hormonal birth control. Hibiscus tea should NOT be consumed by anyone who is pregnant, trying to conceive, or currently breastfeeding.
- Similar to other herbal teas, hibiscus tea can interfere with medicines. Always check with your doctor prior to introducing something new!
- In high concentrations, hibiscus tea can have a harmful affect on the liver.
- Anyone with a hibiscus allergy should avoid hibiscus tea.
Hibiscus Tea FAQs:
Is it okay to drink hibiscus tea daily?
As with anything, it’s always smart to not overdo it. I never have more than 1 cup of hibiscus tea a day. Recommended consumption is about 1-3 cups per day. If you drink hibiscus tea, it’s important to consume high quality tea (which is why I like Pique), follow proper consumption recommendations, & avoid it at all costs if you identify with any of the risks mentioned above. I personally drink hibiscus tea about 1-2 times a week on average, to give you an idea of what is working well for me personally. If I’m doing a cleanse, I like to drink it daily!
Best time to drink hibiscus tea?
The best time to drink hibiscus tea is anytime throughout the day – morning, noon, or evening. I personally like to enjoy a cup of hibiscus tea before bed because it’s very calming!
How to make hibiscus tea?
I love this Hibiscus Beauty Elixir because it’s so high quality & extremely easy to make. If you’re using Pique, the hibiscus tea comes in an on-the-go packet that you rip open & can easily add to hot water. Pique advises against using boiling water. After you pour in the tea packet, all you have to do is stir! It’s that easy! And if you’re using a traditional herbal tea bag to make your hibiscus tea, you’ll want to let the tea bag steep for a few minutes after dropping it into your mug! But there’s no steeping or brewing required with Pique!
What is Pique?
Is Pique good for you?
Did you know that Pique is the #1 Doctor Recommended Tea? Simon Cheng, who is the Founder of Pique has quoted: “Medicinal plants healed my body & supercharged my soul. It’s now my mission to help everyone unlock their benefits & unleash our collective potential.”
Along with their organic certification, Pique really goes above & beyond to ensure that you are getting the absolute most out of their teas. The three categories below really sums up why Pique Tea is a fantastic choice for tea…
1. 3 layers of Triple Toxin Screening:
- The First screen is conducted on raw materials using a third party lab.
- The Second screen is conducted internally after raw materials have been procured.
- The Third screen is conducted after Tea Crystals have been extracted using a third party lab.
2. Cold Brew Crystallization
Pique only sources the finest organic loose leaf grade tea leaves & then use something called Cold Brew Crystallization. This method takes about 8 hours & is used to extract all of the beneficial compounds from the tea. Cold Brew Crystallization is pretty groundbreaking because it preserves up to 12x the nutrient content compared to other teas on the market. And as mentioned, all of these Tea Crystals are also put through the Triple Toxin Screening process as well to ensure maximum safety & daily benefits. These crystals also instantly dissolve in hot water & some flavors will also dissolve in cold water too.
3. Purification
Purity is at the forefront of Pique’s priorities. Pique uses an internationally renowned third-party lab based in Switzerland that has operations world-wide & specifically specializes in teas & plants. This third-party testing is huge & not something many, if any, other tea brands commit to or invest in. Pique also has direct relationship with their tea farmers & have personally visited their farms to ensure their tea continues to meet their high-quality & purity standards.
Is Pique worth it?
In my opinion, Pique is 100% worth it. The price is definitely on the steeper end but as with many things, you pay for quality. I personally don’t see any other tea brand who is as transparent as Pique is regarding the purification of their herbs & ingredients. I also love that their teas are Triple Toxin Screened for pesticides, heavy metals, & toxic mold. Purity is of the utmost important at Pique & that’s why I believe their prices are justified. Most of their teas come out to about $0.85-0.95 per serving, which is awesome.
As soon as you try Pique, you can immediately notice the quality. Not only do their teas taste pure, but they also don’t contain any filler ingredients such as natural flavors, preservatives, sugar, or artificial sweeteners, which I really love.
Finally, Pique’s on the go packets eliminate prep work! You can enjoy them on the go or at home with zero prep, just by tearing open the packet & pouring it into water, which makes it very accessible & much cheaper (& healthier) than grabbing something at Starbucks.
Want to read my thoughts on more Pique products? I also have reviews on their Sun Goddess Matcha, BT Fountain Beauty Electrolyte, & Liposomal Vitamin C!
How do you drink Pique?
You can enjoy Pique’s teas either hot or cold!
Where to buy Pique?
Pique can found in some Whole Foods, Erewhon, Wegmans, & HEB retail stores. My recommendation would be to purchase online directly from the Pique website.
Pique Discount:
Pique rarely offers discounts. They do however, have a subscribe & save option that allows you to save 10% & enjoy free shipping. Otherwise, they offer free shipping on orders over $99.
I hope this list of hibiscus tea pros & cons was helpful in case you’ve been wanting to try this amazing herbal tea! While there are many health benefits of drinking hibiscus tea, it’s definitely not for everyone, so it’s best to be informed before incorporating it into your wellness routine!
Have you tried Hibiscus Tea? Would love to hear your thoughts!
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