One of our favorite remedies is what we have colloquially called "Iced Hibiscus Tea" and are now endearingly naming the "Sweet Hibiscus Refresher" to avoid confusion ("iced" has always only referred to the drink being ice cold, we never actually add ice as it decreases its effectiveness). While this sweet and tangy cold drink is a perfect refresher for hot summers, it has also always been, without fail, our family's lifesaver whenever someone had a fever from colds or flus or certain types of inflammation such as swollen gums (when my wisdom teeth were growing - mine were never impacted so I didn't need to remove them - my gums in that area would swell from time to time, and holding this cold tea in my mouth at the swollen area helped rapidly reduce the swelling). Whether it be for cooling down in the heat or remedying fevers and swelling, you'll never fail to find this refreshingly sweet and tangy brew in our fridge year round.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Remedy for*: Fevers from colds and flus
Servings: 2
Ingredients:
- 3 bags of YC Heirloom Blend Hibiscus Tea
- 0.5-1 teaspoon of Crushed Taiwanese Black Sugar or Crushed Okinawa Black Sugar
- 2.5 cups of water
- Depending on desired flavor and effect, can include an additional teabag and/or more or less sugar
Prepping & Cooking Instructions:
- Add water, teabags, and sugar to a pot.
- Bring to a boil
- Boil for about 1 minute before turning off the heat
- Pour into a pitcher (that can handle both hot and cold liquids)
- Cover and place pitcher in fridge
- Once the tea is completely chilled, it's ready to serve!
Warnings and other notes:
- Hibiscus is known to have properties that decrease blood pressure - DO NOT CONSUME if menstruating, pregnant, or have low blood pressure. Consult your medical provider prior to use if you are taking any medication or have a medical condition.
- This recipe is not suitable for anybody with high blood sugar (due to the added sugar)
- If taking to alleviate ailments, do not add ice as ice will water down the tea and decrease effectiveness*
- Please note that as a remedy, this only works with the added sugar and when consumed chilled. If chilled without the sugar or consumed with sugar but not chilled, the same effects will not be achieved*
- This remedy requires Taiwanese Black Sugar or Okinawa Black Sugar due to those sugars retaining more nutrients than other forms of sugar, allowing them to become a staple traditional home remedy ingredient in East Asia
*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article and the products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.