People have used roses for millennia for both medicinal and cultural purposes. There are thousands of cultivars and more than 130 species in the rose family. While all roses are edible and suitable for use in tea, certain varieties have a sweeter, more astringent flavor.
Prepared by combining rose blossoms and petals, rose tea is an aromatic herbal beverage.
Scientific evidence does not support many of the substance’s claimed health benefits.
This article provides comprehensive information on rose tea, including its possible benefits and applications.
Naturally caffeine-free
Caffeine is present in numerous popular heated beverages, including coffee, tea, and even hot chocolate.
Despite the fact that caffeine provides numerous benefits, such as increased energy and alertness, as well as decreased fatigue, some people avoid it out of preference or because they cannot tolerate its adverse effects.
For example, caffeine has the potential to elevate blood pressure and induce anxiety in certain individuals.
Because rose tea is devoid of caffeine by nature, it may serve as a suitable substitute for certain commonly caffeinated warming beverages.
However, bear in mind that some rose teas contain both regular caffeinated tea and rose petals; therefore, if you’re avoiding caffeine, select 100% rose petal tea.
Hydration and weight loss benefits
Water makes up the majority of rose tea. As a result, drinking one or more glasses of water per day can significantly increase one’s overall water consumption.
Insufficient hydration can result in a variety of symptoms, including muscle cramps, headaches, dehydration, low blood pressure, and a rapid pulse rate.
Therefore, it is essential to consume sufficient water throughout the day via water-rich foods, ordinary water, tea, coffee, and other beverages.
Water can also promote weight loss by stimulating the metabolism. In fact, research indicates that 500 milliliters (17 ounces) of water can stimulate the metabolism by as much as 30%.
Another indication is that drinking water before meals may promote weight loss by increasing satiety and decreasing caloric intake.
Water sufficiency may ultimately help prevent kidney stones.
Rich in antioxidants
Antioxidant compounds aid in the destruction of free radicals. These reactive molecules cause cellular damage and contribute to oxidative stress, a process associated with various diseases and premature aging.
Rose tea primarily contains polyphenols, which are antioxidants.
It is widely believed that polyphenol-rich diets can lessen the likelihood of developing specific forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes, in addition to safeguarding the brain against degenerative disorders.
Rose tea exhibited comparable to or superior phenol content and antioxidant activity to green tea, according to an analysis of twelve different rose cultivars.
Rose tea has an exceptionally high gallic acid content. The antioxidant compound accounts for 10–55% of the total phenol content in the tea. It possesses anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties.
Additionally, the tea is abundant in anthocyanins, which make up to ten percent of its total phenol content. Researchers have linked these colored pigments to enhanced memory, healthy aging, urinary tract and eye health, and a reduced risk of certain cancers.
Additionally, quercetin and kaempferol are phenolic compounds that contribute to the antioxidant activity of rose tea.
It is essential to note, however, that boiling water cannot completely extract the antioxidants from rose petals. Indeed, the antioxidant activity of rose petal extracts is 30–50% greater than that of rose tea.
Alleviate menstrual pain
Menstrual pain impacts around 50% of adolescent females, with some individuals also encountering symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, vertigo, vomiting, and diarrhea (18, 19).
Many women prefer alternative methods of pain management over conventional pain medication.
For example, traditional Chinese medicine has used rose tea derived from Rosa gallica’s blooms or leaves to treat menstrual pain.
One study examined the effects of rose tea on 130 Taiwanese adolescents. The researchers instructed them to drink two glasses of rose tea daily for twelve days, starting one week before their period and continuing for six menstrual cycles.
Those who consumed rose tea reported experiencing less discomfort and greater psychological well-being. This indicates that rose tea might be an effective remedy for menstrual discomfort.
However, before making any firm conclusions, further research must corroborate the results, which are based on a single study.
Claimed benefits of rose tea
There have been numerous additional health claims made about rose tea. However, these claims originate from studies that used extremely potent extracts.
Among its purported advantages are:
- Mental benefits, including the treatment of epilepsy and dementia, are significant.
- The antidepressant, stress-relieving, and relaxation effects
- The intensity of hypersensitive reactions has diminished.
- Antimicrobial characteristics
- Enhanced insulin resistance and cardiovascular health
- Hepatic disorders can be managed.
- Anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory properties
Although certain study findings are encouraging, research has only examined the impacts of rose isolates, oils, and extracts from extremely specific species. Therefore, extrapolating the results to rose tea as a whole is not possible.
Furthermore, humans never participated in any investigation; instead, animals or test devices did.
Moreover, certain purported advantages of rose tea that are currently trending on the internet pertain to rosehip tea rather than rose petal tea. In contrast to rosehip tea, which is rich in vitamin C, there is no evidence to imply that rose petal tea is similarly vitamin C-rich.
Do not confuse these two teas with each other. Rose hips are the drupalicus’s fruits. Although they possess numerous health advantages, they are not the same as rose petals.
Due to the scarcity of research and the ambiguity surrounding teas derived from various rose plant sections, it is prudent to exercise caution when considering hyperbolic or exaggerated assertions about the health benefits of rose tea.
How to make it
In extracted form, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems four rose species—R. gallica, R. alba, R. centifolia, and R. damascena—to be generally harmless.
Additionally, the species Rosa rugosa, known as Mei Gui Hua in traditional Chinese medicine, is frequently employed to treat a wide range of maladies.
However, in addition to the aforementioned species, numerous other cultivars find application in teas and various rose preparations such as rose water, liquors, extracts, and powders.
The process of preparing rose tea is exceedingly straightforward.
Either fresh or desiccated petals may be utilized. Regardless, guarantee that the blossoms are devoid of any pesticides. It is customary to refrain from utilizing roses obtained from nurseries or florists, as they are frequently treated.
To prepare tea from fresh petals, approximately two glasses of thoroughly washed petals are required. Bring them to a simmer in 3 cups (700 ml) of water for approximately 5 minutes. Once the tea is strained, transfer it to glasses and savor.
When utilizing dried petals or blossoms, steep 1 tablespoon of each in boiling water for ten to twenty minutes in a cup. Various brands may prescribe distinct brewing periods and water temperatures.
While unsweetened, the tea can also be enhanced with a touch of honey. Depending on the variety, the flavor can range from acrid to sweet and is floral, light, and subtle.
The bottom line
We produce rose tea using the blooms and petals of the rose bush.
It is caffeine-free by nature, an excellent hydration source, an antioxidant powerhouse, and may assist in the relief of menstrual pain.
Despite the many health benefits of rose tea, studies of rose extracts rather than rose tea itself provide the majority of these benefits.
Regardless, you can incorporate this delicious, revitalizing, and light beverage into a nutritious dietary regimen.
If fresh, unadulterated petals from your backyard or another source are not available, specialty stores and the Internet offer rose petal tea.
