JP/ Dian Kuswandini
Dian Kuswandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
| Wed, 08/05/2009 1:05 PM | Life
It creates one of the most beautiful and delicious floral infusions you can imagine. And, even better, roselle is full of healing properties and has been served as natural health tonic for centuries.
The deep red roselle, with its slightly tangy flavor, is known by different names across the world; some call it rosella, while others know it as karkade, oseille rouge, asam susur or Florida cranberry. In some countries, its infusion is simply known as hibiscus tea, which follows from its binomial name, Hibiscus sabdariffa.
But whatever they call it, many cultures agree that a roselle infusion can do more than just raise your mood with the first sniff - it can also help treat ailments ranging from cough and overweight to gout and high blood pressure.
Found in many countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, China, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil and the United States, roselle is believed to have originated in Africa. Ancient Egyptian legend has it that roselle tea was the favorite beverage of the Pharaohs of the Nile Valley. Because of its natural cooling properties, the Pharaohs would enjoy sipping the roselle drink to refresh themselves in the desert heat. Today, however, the roselle drink isn't only for the Pharaohs anymore: Any of us can enjoy it, hot or cold.
| Wed, 08/05/2009 1:05 PM | Life
It creates one of the most beautiful and delicious floral infusions you can imagine. And, even better, roselle is full of healing properties and has been served as natural health tonic for centuries.
The deep red roselle, with its slightly tangy flavor, is known by different names across the world; some call it rosella, while others know it as karkade, oseille rouge, asam susur or Florida cranberry. In some countries, its infusion is simply known as hibiscus tea, which follows from its binomial name, Hibiscus sabdariffa.
But whatever they call it, many cultures agree that a roselle infusion can do more than just raise your mood with the first sniff - it can also help treat ailments ranging from cough and overweight to gout and high blood pressure.
Found in many countries, including Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, China, Mexico, Jamaica, Brazil and the United States, roselle is believed to have originated in Africa. Ancient Egyptian legend has it that roselle tea was the favorite beverage of the Pharaohs of the Nile Valley. Because of its natural cooling properties, the Pharaohs would enjoy sipping the roselle drink to refresh themselves in the desert heat. Today, however, the roselle drink isn't only for the Pharaohs anymore: Any of us can enjoy it, hot or cold.
According to herbalist Dewani from Planta Medika Loka, many parts of the roselle plant, including its calyces, seeds and leaves, can be used for a range of purposes. Of these parts, however, it's the fleshy red calyx that's the most popular.
"People often mistake this red calyx for the roselle flower, but that's wrong," Dewani reveals. "Roselle has flowers, but it's not the flowers that are used (for making drinks and food)."
Rather, she goes on, it's the roselle calyces that are used fresh for making wine, juice, jam, syrup, pudding, popsicle sticks and food flavoring. And when used dried, they're brewed into hot or cold tea, which makes a natural health tonic.
According to Dewani, roselle became popular as a natural health tonic in Indonesia about four years ago. Driving its popularity, she says, are its pleasant taste and attractive color.
"Many herbals taste really bad - most are bitter," Dewani says. "But roselle, it's different. Add to its infusion some sugar or honey, and it makes a delicious beverage. And even without any sweetener, it still tastes good."
Roselle also has a very attractive color like syrup, she adds. And because the plant itself is beautiful also, "putting one in your home can make a decorative plant."
But the pretty look and refreshing taste are just a bonus; as Dewani points out, "roselle contains many healing properties that can be used to treat many health problems".
According to Dewani, among the ailments that can benefit from roselle tea are hypertension, gout, high cholesterol and overweight. In addition, many people drink roselle tea to relieve cough, oral ulcers and headache, as well as use it to prevent constipation, because it acts as natural mild laxative.
Behind the healing wonders of roselle tea, Dewani reveals, are the rich antioxidants -flavonoids, gossypetin, hibiscetine and anthocyanin - contained in the roselle calycles.
"Antioxidants help our bodies fight the harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can cause cell damage, leaving the body in a diseased state," Dewani explains. "By taming free radicals, antioxidants help maintain the body's good health," she adds.
Another antioxidant in roselle calyces is vitamin C, which works to fight off infections by strengthening the immune system. In every 100 grams of roselle calyces, there's approximately 260 to 280 milligrams of vitamin C, which means the plant has a vitamin C content three times higher than blackcurrants and nine times higher than citrus.
"That's why roselle tea is good for those who work until night or get tired easily, as it can help maintain stamina," Dewani reveals.
The roselle calyces are also rich in, among others, calcium (486 milligrams per 100 grams), magnesium, beta-carotene and vitamins A, D and B1. And you might also be happy to learn that roselle tea is caffeine-free.
"Roselle also has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents," Dewani says. "If you go camping, for example, and want to make sure that your hands are clean enough, then you can crumple up roselle leaves and let them clean your hands."
Dewani adds that most of her clients who choose roselle tea are those suffering from ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gout.
"Most of them are from the upper class who tend to eat delicious, fatty foods, so they have high cholesterol."
With regular consumption of roselle tea - about two to three times per day - most of these clients show a significant decrease in their cholesterol level within just one month.
Aritedja, a 58-year-old housewife, is a roselle enthusiast who has been using the herbal remedy for the past five months to treat her high blood pressure. Aritedja says that, after drinking roselle tea three times a day for around three weeks, her blood pressure dropped from 140/90 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg.
"My blood pressure has been stable ever since, but I still drink roselle tea to maintain my health," she says. "Besides, I have to keep my blood pressure down to avoid stroke."
Aritedja says she has recommended roselle tea to many of my friends and relatives who face similar health problems.
"After all, roselle tea tastes so much better than any other herbal drink," she says.
Aritedja's experience isn't a one-off. A number of scientific studies on roselle have been carried out all over the world to investigate its healing wonders. In 2004, a study by naturopath Maureen Williams revealed that people suffering from hypertension can lower their blood pressure significantly by drinking roselle tea daily. The study, published in the journal Phytomedicine included 70 people divided into two groups; one group drank 1.5 liters of roselle tea each day before breakfast, while the other group ingested 25 mg of an antihypertensive medication (captopril) twice daily. After one month, the roselle tea drinkers' blood pressure was reduced at least 10 points in 79 percent of the participants. Blood pressure in the medicated group was reduced at least 10 points in some 84 percent of the participants - a statistically insignificant difference from those who drank roselle tea.
In Taiwan, researcher Yun Ching Chang of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Chung San Medical University found in his pre-medical research that the natural pigment in dried roselle calyces is effective in impeding and destroying cancer cells (or HL-60 or leukemic cell).
But even if you aren't looking either to prevent cancer or treat hypertension, then you might be interested in trying this tasty drink as an alternative way to help you lose weight. Yes, drinking a cup of roselle tea after meals can help reduce the absorption of dietary fats and carbohydrates, thanks to its natural enzyme inhibitors like phaseolamin. In addition, roselle tea has cleansing and anti-bloating properties that help rid the body of excess fluids, therefore further contributing to weight loss.
But despite the many benefits of drinking roselle tea, Dewani says that those with low blood pressure cannot benefit from this natural drink.
"Of course, because it works to decrease blood pressure, then it's recommended that those who already have low blood pressure don't drink roselle tea," she says, adding, "and those who're suffering from gastric ulcers should consider taking roselle calyces in darker colors (like purple) because they are less acidic."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/05/red-hot-amp-cool.html-0
"People often mistake this red calyx for the roselle flower, but that's wrong," Dewani reveals. "Roselle has flowers, but it's not the flowers that are used (for making drinks and food)."
Rather, she goes on, it's the roselle calyces that are used fresh for making wine, juice, jam, syrup, pudding, popsicle sticks and food flavoring. And when used dried, they're brewed into hot or cold tea, which makes a natural health tonic.
According to Dewani, roselle became popular as a natural health tonic in Indonesia about four years ago. Driving its popularity, she says, are its pleasant taste and attractive color.
"Many herbals taste really bad - most are bitter," Dewani says. "But roselle, it's different. Add to its infusion some sugar or honey, and it makes a delicious beverage. And even without any sweetener, it still tastes good."
Roselle also has a very attractive color like syrup, she adds. And because the plant itself is beautiful also, "putting one in your home can make a decorative plant."
But the pretty look and refreshing taste are just a bonus; as Dewani points out, "roselle contains many healing properties that can be used to treat many health problems".
According to Dewani, among the ailments that can benefit from roselle tea are hypertension, gout, high cholesterol and overweight. In addition, many people drink roselle tea to relieve cough, oral ulcers and headache, as well as use it to prevent constipation, because it acts as natural mild laxative.
Behind the healing wonders of roselle tea, Dewani reveals, are the rich antioxidants -flavonoids, gossypetin, hibiscetine and anthocyanin - contained in the roselle calycles.
"Antioxidants help our bodies fight the harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can cause cell damage, leaving the body in a diseased state," Dewani explains. "By taming free radicals, antioxidants help maintain the body's good health," she adds.
Another antioxidant in roselle calyces is vitamin C, which works to fight off infections by strengthening the immune system. In every 100 grams of roselle calyces, there's approximately 260 to 280 milligrams of vitamin C, which means the plant has a vitamin C content three times higher than blackcurrants and nine times higher than citrus.
"That's why roselle tea is good for those who work until night or get tired easily, as it can help maintain stamina," Dewani reveals.
The roselle calyces are also rich in, among others, calcium (486 milligrams per 100 grams), magnesium, beta-carotene and vitamins A, D and B1. And you might also be happy to learn that roselle tea is caffeine-free.
"Roselle also has antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory agents," Dewani says. "If you go camping, for example, and want to make sure that your hands are clean enough, then you can crumple up roselle leaves and let them clean your hands."
Dewani adds that most of her clients who choose roselle tea are those suffering from ailments such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and gout.
"Most of them are from the upper class who tend to eat delicious, fatty foods, so they have high cholesterol."
With regular consumption of roselle tea - about two to three times per day - most of these clients show a significant decrease in their cholesterol level within just one month.
Aritedja, a 58-year-old housewife, is a roselle enthusiast who has been using the herbal remedy for the past five months to treat her high blood pressure. Aritedja says that, after drinking roselle tea three times a day for around three weeks, her blood pressure dropped from 140/90 mmHg to 120/80 mmHg.
"My blood pressure has been stable ever since, but I still drink roselle tea to maintain my health," she says. "Besides, I have to keep my blood pressure down to avoid stroke."
Aritedja says she has recommended roselle tea to many of my friends and relatives who face similar health problems.
"After all, roselle tea tastes so much better than any other herbal drink," she says.
Aritedja's experience isn't a one-off. A number of scientific studies on roselle have been carried out all over the world to investigate its healing wonders. In 2004, a study by naturopath Maureen Williams revealed that people suffering from hypertension can lower their blood pressure significantly by drinking roselle tea daily. The study, published in the journal Phytomedicine included 70 people divided into two groups; one group drank 1.5 liters of roselle tea each day before breakfast, while the other group ingested 25 mg of an antihypertensive medication (captopril) twice daily. After one month, the roselle tea drinkers' blood pressure was reduced at least 10 points in 79 percent of the participants. Blood pressure in the medicated group was reduced at least 10 points in some 84 percent of the participants - a statistically insignificant difference from those who drank roselle tea.
In Taiwan, researcher Yun Ching Chang of the Institute of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Chung San Medical University found in his pre-medical research that the natural pigment in dried roselle calyces is effective in impeding and destroying cancer cells (or HL-60 or leukemic cell).
But even if you aren't looking either to prevent cancer or treat hypertension, then you might be interested in trying this tasty drink as an alternative way to help you lose weight. Yes, drinking a cup of roselle tea after meals can help reduce the absorption of dietary fats and carbohydrates, thanks to its natural enzyme inhibitors like phaseolamin. In addition, roselle tea has cleansing and anti-bloating properties that help rid the body of excess fluids, therefore further contributing to weight loss.
But despite the many benefits of drinking roselle tea, Dewani says that those with low blood pressure cannot benefit from this natural drink.
"Of course, because it works to decrease blood pressure, then it's recommended that those who already have low blood pressure don't drink roselle tea," she says, adding, "and those who're suffering from gastric ulcers should consider taking roselle calyces in darker colors (like purple) because they are less acidic."
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/05/red-hot-amp-cool.html-0