Hibiscus Lemongrass Iced Green Tea

Green tea infused with hibiscus and lemongrass is a very refreshing and delicious drink . Flavoured with lemon juice , honey and mint this iced tea is a perfect summer treat. Hibiscus lemongrass iced green tea with a gorgeous natural colour in shades of red and mild citrus taste is full of antioxidants and is revitalising. It can be enjoyed as a hot brew or cold drink at any time of the day all year round. This flavorful iced green tea serves as a immune-booster and a healthy alternative to carbonated and sugar laden drinks.

Before we move towards the recipe, let us first see the health benefits of the ingredients that go into this flavorful tea. 

We all know that green tea is loaded with antioxidants and nutrients that have powerful effects on the body. These include improved brain function, fat loss, a lower risk of cancer and many other impressive benefits. 

Lemongrass, also called citronella, is a tall, stalky plant. It has a fresh, lemony aroma and a citrus flavor. It’s a common ingredient in Thai cooking and bug repellent. Lemongrass is also used as a folk remedy to promote sleep, relieve pain, and boost immunity. One of the most popular ways to enjoy lemongrass is in tea. Lemongrass tea is used as a natural remedy for menstrual cramps, bloating, and hot flashes.Lemongrass Tea benefits includes detoxifying the body, preventing anaemia, increasing the body immunity, supporting healthier skin, relieving insomnia and treating headaches and migraines. Other benefits include supporting respiration, treating diabetes, treating fever and aiding digestion
Source

Hibiscus is described as a flowering plant of family malvaceae. The health benefits of hibiscus tea include relief from high blood pressure and high cholesterol, as well as digestive, immune system, and inflammatory problems. It helps to cure liver disease and reduces the risk of cancer. It can also speed up the metabolism and help in healthy, gradual weight loss. Hibiscus tea is rich in vitamin C, minerals and various antioxidants, while also helping in the treatment of hypertension and anxiety. Source

You may use green tea bags or loose leaf to make this tea. Try to use non flavoured green tea. I have used Lipton green tea leaves in this recipe. Here I have used the fresh lemon grass growing in my backyard. You may use fresh or store bought dry ones which ever is available. Either fresh petals of hibiscus or the dried ones may be used. I have plenty of Hibiscus plants growing near my apartment. Fresh flowers go in as offerings daily for our pooja ( worship). What do you do with those flowers the next day ? Our nirmalya ( pooja offerings) of a week or 15 days is used in making manure for our potted plants. Recently i have started  drying the pooja offerings of rose and hibiscus flowers and use them in my daily cooking and garnishing. Here in this recipe i have used the dried flowers of hibiscus. Use of sweetener is optional. I have used little honey in this recipe. So lets get started.

Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5-7 minutes
Serves: 2 large glasses

Ingredients:

• 2-3 Lemongrass stalks
• 5-6 dried Hibiscus flowers
• 2 teaspoon green tea leaves
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 3 cups of water

  Method:

1. Rinse the lemongrass stalks and cut them into pieces of about 2-3 inches. Place water and lemongrass in a sauce pan or kettle and bring it to a rolling boil. Next tip in the dried Hibiscus flowers and allow the mix to boil for another 2-3 minutes.

2. Put off the flame and allow the solution to cool down a bit. By now we can see the water has taken up a beautiful red colour. At this stage add the green tea leaves and cover the sauce pan. Let the tea brew for 5-7 minutes. Now strain the tea in a big pitcher or mixing bowl.

3. Squeeze out juice of one lemon into it followed by the addition of honey. Give a quick stir . Our Hibiscus Lemongrass green tea is ready. You may sip it immediately or allow it to cool down in a refrigerator for couple of hours and serve it cold .

This Hibiscus Lemongrass iced Green Tea recipe is featured in the #153 rd #FoodieMondayBlogHop with #typesofTea theme. Do check out my fellow bloggers posts as well for some innovative ideas on this theme.

                          

Recipe Notes:

• This tea can be enjoyed as a hot brew or cold drink at any time of the day all year round.
• Use of sweetener is optional. I have used little honey in this recipe. You may use agave or maple syrup if desired.
• Fresh petals of Hibiscus flower or its dried form may be used in the recipe.
• Pregnant ladies and lactating mothers should consult a doctor before consuming this tea.

If you ever try this recipe, do share your feed back with us in the comment section below. Follow us on #Facebook  #Instagram ,  #Twitter and #Google+  for more recipes and new updates. 

For more tea recipes do check out the following posts from my blog

• Masala chai

                               

• Apple Mint Green Tea

                                    

• Roselle Drink