Metropolitan Tea Company - Organic Rabak Hibiscus Petals
Tart and good for your heart. Full fruity character with a light sweet finish.
Luxury Ingredients: Hibiscus petals* *Organic Certified Organic by Pro-Cert Organic Systems (Organic Equivalency with COR, NOP, EU, JAS)
Small Batch Blended and Packed in: Canada
Tea(s) From: Egypt
Region(s): Nile River Delta
Antioxidant Level: Low
Caffeine Content: None - Caffeine Free Herb
Metropolitan Tea Company - Organic Rabak Hibiscus Petals
About this Botanical:
Depending on where you live, Hibiscus infusions go by many, many different names. In Senegal, the drink is known as Bissap and is commonly thought of as the national beverage. In The Gambia, the infusion goes by the name of Wanjo in Mali Dabileni and in Nigeria, Tsobo. Most famously however, the tart red infusion is known as Karkadeh, or Karkady in Egypt, where it has been enjoyed since the days of the Pharaohs. Egyptian legend has it that Tutankhamen's royal cookbook contained recipes for brewing the refreshing beverage. (And as they used to say back in the day, if it's good enough for the Pharaoh, it's good enough for me!) These days, on street corners from Aswan to Cairo, vendors prepare and dole out cup after cup of sweet Karkadeh to refresh passersby in the hot Egyptian sun.
So, what accounts for the beverage's longevity and popularity? In addition to the superb flavor of infused hibiscus, the drink has numerous health benefits for the body. The flower, which grows throughout the tropical world is a source of flavonoids and antioxidants and has been shown to be an effective agent for lowering blood pressure. As such, research suggests that incorporating hibiscus tea into the diet can control blood pressure in people who are at risk of developing hypertension1. For those of us who aren't prone to hypertension, the flower offers high doses of Vitamin C making it a worthwhile beverage for any occasion.
In keeping with Egyptian tradition, we've sourced this organic hibiscus from one of that country's top producers. The flowers are grown free of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in favor of all-natural agricultural input. Try some today and raise a toast to the Red Tea of Egypt!
