Drinking lychee tea is a refreshingly sweet and surprisingly healthy beverage using an exotic, nutrient-dense fruit.
What is Lychee Tea?
Lychee tea is a fruit tea that consists of lychee fruit, juice, flower petals, or extracts mixed with traditional black tea. The lychee fruit grows on a tree that is the only member of the Litchi genus, which may explain the fruits’ truly unique appearance. This tree is native to a limited number of Chinese provinces and has been used in traditional medicine throughout history.
Lychee tea is often brewed as an iced tea to make a summer beverage, but it can also be served warm. Since it does include traditional black tea, there will be caffeine in this tea, but the sweetness of the fruit will minimize much of the astringency in this drink. As this fruit became more popular as an export around the world, the popularity of this tea also grew. [1]
A cool glass of flavor and goodness. Photo Credit: Shutterstock
Lychee Tea Nutrition
This tea has a good nutritional profile, with high levels of potassium, and good amounts of polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, and beta-carotene, as well as vitamin C and assorted B vitamins. [2]
Lychee Tea Benefits
The most notable benefits of lychee tea include its ability to ease digestion, aid in weight loss, and protect the heart, among others.
Improves Cardiovascular Health
High levels of potassium mean that this tea can help to lower blood pressure and protect against atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and stroke. [3]
Strengthens Immune System
This tea provides a major immune system bump in the form of vitamin C, helping to stimulate white blood cell production and protect against the common cold and flu. [4]
Anticancer Potential
Lychee, scientifically known as Litchi chinensis, was observed to have antitumor properties in a 2017 study published in the Nutrients journal. While further studies are required to fully explore its anticancer potential, these properties are being attributed to the bioactive compounds in the seeds, pulps, as well as the peel. [5]
Aids in Digestion
This tea was often consumed following a large meal, as the caffeine and antioxidants were believed to speed and smooth the digestive process.
Helps Weight Loss
Caffeinated beverages can stimulate metabolism, thus helping to burn fat faster and aid in weight loss goals. [6]
How to Make Lychee Tea?
Lychee tea can be made in different ways. You can either use the extracted juice of the fruit or even the fruit themselves. In traditional use, sometimes only the flower petals were blended in with the tea for a more subtle sweetness. Presented below is more of a basic recipe.
Refreshing Lychee Tea Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of lychee syrup
- 3 cups of water
- 2-3 black tea bags
Instructions
- To make lychee tea, remove the skin and chop the lychee fruits.
- Press and crush them to a pulp.
- Add a small amount of water and strain the juice out through a cheesecloth.
- Bring a pot of water to boil on the stove.
- Add 2-3 black tea bags and allow them to steep for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the lychee juice. Steep for another 1-2 minutes, then take it down from the stove. Allow it to cool and refrigerate it for a few hours till it's cold enough to be served.
Notes
Side Effects
If you drink this tea in excess, you might experience some side effects, especially due to the caffeine content. This tea should be avoided by pregnant or breastfeeding women, as well as those with nervous disorders, or who want to reduce their caffeine intake. Some allergies to lychee exist, but they are rare and would result in mild to moderate gastrointestinal troubles.
