If you are a tea connoisseur, honeybush tea will be a name you have heard already. It is Africa’s contribution to the world of tea. Honeybush tea as the name suggests looks and feels a lot similar to honey itself. It is not just the taste and appearance of this tea that attracts many to consume it, but it is a traditional herbal remedy also.
There are documents where honeybush tea was recorded to be consumed for treating cough, cold, and various other ailments. Science also has a similar opinion regarding this, as this tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants and phytonutrients. This article on ‘What is honeybush tea’ will examine each aspect of this tea in detail and will give you a clear understanding of its health benefits. So dive in and find out what kind of treasures are offered by a sip of honeybush tea!
What Is Honeybush Tea?
Belonging to the family of Fabaceae, the honeybush is a plant that is generally associated with the plant species of Cyclopia intermedia and Cyclopia subternata. This plant originated from South Africa and is also called heuningbos in the local language. Honeybush is also sometimes connected with rooibos, which is a close relative to this plant with similar characteristics.
The tea from this plant has been traditionally used as a herbal remedy to treat various conditions such as colds and coughs. The plant got its name honeybush due to the sweet-smelling yellow flowers which also generate a honey-like substance. Honeybush tea has a honey-like aroma and sweet flavor and is made by the gentle fermentation of the leaves of this plant.
It forms a rich and amber-colored brew that looks similar to honey or caramel. Honeybush tea has soothing and relaxing effects and is often enjoyed to create an overall sense of well-being. Most importantly, this tea is free from caffeine and abundant with nutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, and several antioxidants.
Potential benefits of honeybush tea
There are multiple health benefits associated with honeybush tea consumption. You can find these benefits listed and described below.
- Higher amounts of antioxidants- Honeybush tea is abundant with antioxidants that can reduce the risk of free radical damage in your body. According to research published by NIH, the presence of certain antioxidants such as xanthones and flavones was found to be effective against cellular damage. These compounds have anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic properties that make this tea full of health benefits.
- Supports cardiovascular functions- Having anti-inflammatory properties, the polyphenols in honeybush tea can be beneficial for heart functions. Many studies have shown that these polyphenols can prevent blood clot formation and increase good cholesterol in your body. A study published in the journal Nutraceuticals-Past, Present, and Future explained this and has found evidence for the health benefits of honeybush tea for the heart.
- Aid in diabetes management- There are ample studies that have shown that the presence of certain polyphenols in honeybush tea such as hesperidin and mangiferin helps with controlling blood sugar levels in your body. Such a study was published in the Molecules journal where it was established that honeybush tea had the potential to manage type 2 diabetes.
- Promote bone health- Another health benefit of drinking honeybush tea is that it can promote bone health. According to research published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, it was found that the bioactive compounds in honeybush tea can prevent osteoclast formation, which inhibits the breakdown of bone tissue. This protects your bone health from harmful conditions such as arthritis and osteoporosis.
- Induces anti-aging effects and improves skin health- As per researchers, drinking honeybush tea can protect your cells from oxidative damage caused by UV radiation. This provides you with anti-aging benefits and supports your skin health. It can hydrate your skin and prevent the formation of wrinkles and sunburn.
Along with these, some other crucial health benefits of honeybush tea include:
- Prevents the onset of cancer
- Helps with weight loss
- Alleviate symptoms of menopause
- Supports respiratory health
Nutrition facts of honeybush tea
Honeybush tea doesn’t contain any calories so it is free from carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Based on a factsheet on honeybush tea prepared by the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA), each cup (240ml) of honeybush tea contains the following nutrients:
| Nutrients | Mg per 240ml |
| Iron | 0.3mg |
| Calcium | 0.01mg |
| Potassium | 0.01mg |
| Magnesium | 0.002mg |
| Zinc | 0.015mg |
| Copper | 0.003mg |
| Sodium | 1.5mg |
| Manganese | 0.11mg |
How to prepare honeybush tea?
Making honeybush tea is similar to making any other tea. You can buy the teabags from your local store. First, take approximately 250-300ml of water in a pan and boil it. Add the honeybush tea leaves to it.
Let it simmer for at least 5-7 minutes. The more time you let it steep, the higher the antioxidant content will be in the tea. Now pour this into your favorite cup and mix it with a natural sweetener. Your delicious and healthy honeybush tea is ready.
You can also try variations by adding milk or spices like cinnamon and cardamom and explore the different sides of this healthy beverage. And for those who love iced teas, you can make a honeybush iced tea version simply by letting the tea you just made inside the refrigerator for a few minutes.
Side effects and risks of honeybush tea
There are no considerable side effects reported of consuming honeybush tea. However, some research has indicated the chance of microbial contamination during the fermentation process so the only way to prevent it is to boil the water completely and then add tea leaves to it.
Even though there are not many risky factors to it, pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before consuming this tea. Because relevant studies on the effectiveness of honeybush tea for pregnant and breastfeeding women are not available.
Also, it has been found that this tea and its bioactive compounds might interact with drug-metabolizing enzymes and can inhibit their therapeutic effects. There is also a chance of honeybush tea negatively affecting the bioavailability of certain dietary oxidants.
So if you have any existing medical conditions or are already taking any sort of drugs, it is ideal to consult your doctor before drinking honeybush tea.
Conclusion
Honeybush tea, originated from Africa, is a healthy and delicious tea made from honeybush plants. The name was associated with honey due to the sweet-smelling yellow flowers of this plant. There are around 20 varieties of honeybush plants and the tea is primarily made from two varieties of them.
Honeybush tea is abundant with certain polyphenols that make it beneficial for multiple functions in the human body. There is research that has found that honeybush tea is effective for controlling blood pressure, supporting weight loss, increasing antioxidant activity, promoting skin health, reducing menopausal discomforts, protecting bone health, etc.
Even though it has been used as a herbal remedy, pregnant, and breastfeeding women and people generally diagnosed with any health conditions need to seek their doctor’s advice before consuming it.
FAQs
Honeybush tea is good for several health benefits such as supporting gastrointestinal function, reducing appetite, supporting respiratory functions, regulating blood pressure, etc.
Honeybush tea tastes sweet and smooth, very similar to caramel or honey.
There is no strict rule as to whether or not to put milk in honeybush tea. Some people enjoy it without milk while others prefer it with milk.
As honeybush tea doesn’t contain any caffeine, it can be consumed as long as you like as there won’t be any side effects.
Honeybush tea contains phytoestrogen, compounds that mimic the female hormones called estrogen.
Consuming too much honeybush tea is not a problem as they are zero-calorie. But if you add sweets and milk to it, it can cause your calorie intake to be higher.
