Karkade tea: what is this drink, what is made of and where the plant grows

Flowers petals of Sudanese rose (also known as hibiscus) & ndash; this is what karkade tea is made of, has a pleasant color and a subtle aroma.

A popular drink around the world deserves attention for its unique composition and impact on the body.

What is it

The bright plant of the mallow family has several species from annuals to shrubs.

Some varieties of this plant are used in the light industry for making paper, others only serve as garden decorations.

You can make an amazing thirst-quenching drink from the subdariffa variety (Syrian rose).

Shrubs are grown in Sudan, India, Egypt, Sri Lanka and China.

Petals are added to jellies and jams, jam is made from them.

Egyptians believed that infusion cures all diseases, one of its names & ndash; & laquo; pharaonic drink & raquo;.

The Sudanese rose has no unusable parts. And roots, and stems, and leaves are used with benefit. But only buds and inflorescences are suitable for brewing.

Surprisingly, their lives are very short. Blooming in the morning, the flower falls by lunchtime.

Collect inflorescences by hand and dry under special conditions. This is the only way to preserve all the useful properties of hibiscus.

If you define what karkade is, then this is not tea. A drink with this name should be made from tea tree leaves or camelia bush (Latin Cam & eacute; llia sin & eacute; nsis), but the Sudanese rose is a completely different plant.

 

A little history

The birthplace of rosella (another name for this karkade) is considered to be India, but the Egyptians call & laquo; red tea & raquo; or & laquo; kandahar & raquo; its national drink.

During excavations in the tombs of noble Egyptians, scientists discovered karkade petals.

Unlike Arab countries, Europe only got to know him in the 18th century. The unusual sour taste did not like gourmets. And only by the middle of the last century did Europeans recognize and appreciate it. It was brought to Russia by tourists about half a century ago.

What makes karkade tea

Flowers are harvested and dried by hand. In order to prepare an infusion, only red petals and rose cups formed after flowering are suitable.

At the end of the 19th century, two factories were opened in Australia for the production of raw materials from pink inflorescences. The plant began to be cultivated on experimental farms in California and Hawaii. It has become very popular in the Midwest as decorative and eaten.

In 1960, its crops were destroyed by a hurricane in most southern states. Growing hibiscus on an industrial scale after the cataclysm has ceased.

The main suppliers of raw materials are India, Thailand and China. Climatic conditions and countries where karkade tea grows affect its taste and color. It is interesting not only for food manufacturers, but also for pharmacists, due to its properties.

Country Usage

Indians add flowers to puddings and pastries.

Angolans use leaf juice to heal open wounds.

In Nigeria and Ghana, it is drunk with mint, insisting in cold water, in the Caribbean it is served at the Christmas table with fruit, and in Burma it is considered a natural aphrodisiac.

In Africa, hibiscus is served on a side dish with peanuts, added to sauces and filling for pies.

Red tea is very popular in Scandinavian countries.

In Europe, it is used in the food and pharmaceutical industries, processing welded petals into fertilizers.

Confectioners in Pakistan love it for its ability to give dishes a jelly-like consistency. Therefore, it serves as the basis of icing for cakes, gas stations and jams.

How to choose a karkade

It is good if the brew has a coarse fraction, which consists of dried cups and petals of whole or chopped flower.

Small leaves packaged in bags will be less useful, their taste will not be so bright and rich.

Storage conditions

The components that make up karkade tea should not be left in cellophane or paper bags.

It must be poured into a ceramic or glass jar with a lid. In this case, the carcade can be stored at room temperature for up to 2 years.

The flower mixture will not deteriorate from longer storage, but the infusion loses usefulness and brightness of color.

Reflecting red tea in culture

Arab doctors have long noticed the medicinal possibilities of the Sudanese rose. She was called & laquo; a cure for all diseases & raquo;.

It was not available to all people without restriction, drinking it was the privilege of kings and pharaohs, noble and wealthy citizens.

Calories

Sudanese rose flowers contain protein.

There are also six essential amino acids. & nbsp;

They are rich in flavonoids that combine with vitamin C to improve blood vessel health.

Karkade can be consumed with diets, as there are 37 calories per 100 ml.

What Karkade tea is made of affects the rich composition of the drink itself:

• fruit acids and carbohydrates;
• antioxidants;
• thiamine, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and other B vitamins;
• nicotinic acid;
• Vitamin C;
• Vitamin K.

Nutritional value in 100 grams

The chemical composition of dry flowers has been carefully studied by scientists. Indicators in grams:

• proteins & ndash; 0,4;
• fats & ndash; 0,7;
• carbohydrates & ndash; 7;
• plant fibers & ndash; 12.

In milligrams:

• calcium & ndash; 1;
• vitamin C & ndash; 18;
• magnesium & ndash; 1;
• hardware & ndash; 9;
• ascorbic acid & ndash; 7.

Useful properties of karkade

Anthocyanins give the drink a bright pomegranate color, the invigorating taste with acidity reminds of the organic acids in the composition.

Quercetin, known as an antioxidant, is responsible for the process that suspends aging of the skin, heart muscle, and cornea of the eye.

Vitamins of the P group strengthen the walls of blood vessels, make them elastic, increase the tone of skin cells. Flavonoids reduce the risk of diabetes mellitus. Vitamin C and linoleic acid help fight stress and fatigue, improve mental activity.

The complex and rich composition makes the impact on the human body universal and complex, positively affecting all systems.

Composition, availability of useful substances

How karkade tea grows and looks can be seen in many countries.

Grown and assembled in different places, it differs in taste and color. But the red rose always contains polysaccharides and amino acids, substances that neutralize the action of free radicals and slow down aging, vitamins A, B, C, P, trace elements, glucose and fructose.

Therapeutic and beneficial qualities

An in-depth study of the composition of hibiscus makes it possible to recommend its use in certain diseases and for the prevention of disease states. It will relieve fatigue and restore energy when overworked.

Diabetics and hypertensive patients are recommended for use. An amazing feature of it is that it increases the pressure a little hot, and cold & ndash; drops.

In the season of colds, karkade will strengthen the immune system. It is very useful for preserving vision. It gently affects digestion, helps with constipation.

The plant's ability to remove salt from the body, have a mild choleretic and diuretic effect, and relieve edema is known.

With systematic use, the complexion will improve, the skin will become more elastic and elastic, peeling and inflammation will decrease. & laquo; Royal drink & raquo; removes toxins and relieves intoxication syndromes.

For people who eat a weight loss diet, it will be a good helper and supplement to a healthy diet.

It is recommended to drink in the heat, since with abundant sweating, the body loses not only water, but also vital trace elements. Rosella restores potassium balance, which is especially important for cardiac function.

In cooking

Traditionally, a flower is prepared in the form of a drink.

It is drunk hot and cold, with mint, ginger and fruit. Add sugar and lemon.

Confectioners use the plant to make mousses, puddings and jellies, and chefs use it as side dishes and seasonings for soups.

Due to its bright pomegranate color, the plant is used as a dye, and dry raw materials serve as a flavor additive in liqueurs. The sauce resembles cranberry in appearance and taste, so it is perfect for meat dishes. Lemonade and mulled wine from petals are very popular.

In cosmetology

The plant has a positive effect on the color and tone of the skin due to the presence of B vitamins in the composition. These substances make the skin elastic, restore water balance and relieve peeling.

Hibiscus extract is part of rejuvenating cosmetics, regenerants and age creams. Its anti-inflammatory effect is used in acne medications.

The phyto-compound complex performs an antioxidant function, protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation, increases resistance to temperature fluctuations and pollution.

Hibiscus and other phenolcarboxylic acids exhibit pronounced antimicrobial and antiseptic properties.

Who and what hibiscus cosmetics are for:

• those who struggle with skin pigmentation;
• for masks and wraps with detoxification and rejuvenation;
• to relieve swelling;
• dull and lifeless skin with uneven tone;
• to improve skin conditions for acne, wilting, and cellulitis.

Based on the Sudanese rose, they make shampoos and hair rinses, bath foams, masks and perfume products.

Hazardous Properties

The benefits of a product are greater than the harms. However, rosella & ndash; plant, from which karkade tea is made & ndash; has features that are important to keep in mind when eating it.

Due to the high content of organic acids, it increases the acidity of gastric juice. It should be used with caution when exacerbating gastritis and ulcers, it is better to exclude the effect on irritated mucous membranes. Karkade can provoke heartburn and recurrence of chronic disease.

Since it has a diuretic and choleretic property, it is not worth risking and drinking natural tea for people suffering from urolithiasis and choleretic disease. The tool can trigger painful movement of stones.

Like any natural component rich in vitamins and minerals, hibiscus is dangerous for allergy sufferers due to individual intolerance.

Contraindications

Remember that a bright and rich decoction can cause an allergic reaction.

If there are no contraindications, you need to start with small portions, gradually introducing a healthy vitamin broth into the diet.

Listening to feelings and your own body, it is easy to derive your formula for using a source of health and longevity donated by nature.

Drinking will fill a healthy person with vigor, give energy and strength.

Karkade for weight loss

The plant has a natural acid and the ability to dissolve harmful and excess fats for the body. Based on this, there is an opinion that it helps to fight excess weight.

However, a person is not able to drink so much decoction to lose weight. You won't be able to lose weight with it

Nevertheless, the advice of nutritionists to drink a few glasses of sugar-free infusion is not groundless. Its composition improves digestion and optimizes metabolism. Properly brewed and timely drunk drink reduces appetite and reduces the amount of sugar consumed with other liquids.

It is important to remember that it is better not to drink carcade on an empty stomach. An increase in the acidity of gastric juice worsens the condition of the mucous membrane. But after eating, a large amount of acid helps digest food.

You cannot lose weight with karkade, you can improve metabolism and digestion.

How to cook

Proper brewing & ndash; ensuring the preservation of all healing qualities and taste of the product. The secret of the recipe for this decoction is that despite several ways, there are mandatory rules for compliance.

Firstly, it is important to choose the right dishes. A ceramic, porcelain or glass container is suitable, a metal one can change the hue of the decoction and give an extraneous taste.

Secondly, answering the question of which plant makes karkade tea & ndash; only from bright pomegranate flowers. The best brew consists of large inflorescences and hibiscus cups.

According to the traditional version, the proportion is observed:

1 teaspoon petals per glass of water.

The mixture is poured with boiling water and infused for 3-5 minutes.

Served both cold and hot.

Add sugar, lemon, ginger, mint, vanilla, cinnamon and other spices to taste.

According to various sources, this method of brewing loses from 50 to 70% of useful substances.

Hot water destroys vitamin C, so karkade is also infused in cold water. The ratio of parts is preserved, recommendations for the infusion time are from 5 to 9 hours. In this case, the minimum amount of valuable components is destroyed.

Karkade pregnant

It is especially important for the expectant mother that the infusion:

• positively affects the process of hematopoiesis, improving the quality of red blood cells;
• increases immunity, gives strength;
• detoxifies and relieves swelling;
• alleviates toxicosis and is a source of vitamins;
• stimulates mental activity, compensates for the effects of stress.

Pregnancy is not considered a contraindication for the use of infusion.

However, you should be sure that there are no allergies to the components, observe moderation and consult a doctor.

If you want to experience the benefits of karkada, be careful about your purchase and monitor your own feelings during consumption.