Drinking mango tea is possibly an excellent way to improve your overall nutrient profile and protect your immune system, provided you know how to make this exotic brew.
What is Mango Tea?
Mango tea is a fruity, exotic tea that is brewed from the leaves of a mango tree, and while there are dozens of varieties of mango, the genus for all of them is Mangifera. Typically found in Asia, Southeast Asia, and parts of the Indian subcontinent, mango tea is a very popular beverage there because some of these underdeveloped countries struggle to attain enough nutrients through their diet. Mango tea provides a strong concentration of critical minerals, antioxidants, and vitamins that are needed to keep indigenous and remote populations healthy. [1]
Due to the recent attention on mango as a superfood fruit, packed with unique antioxidants and offering numerous health benefits, mango tea has also seen its popularity grow. Fortunately, many of the claims concerning what this tea can do have played out, and it is becoming more and more trusted in the natural health community.
Mango tea is the perfect refreshing drink you need on a hot summer day! Photo Credit: Shutterstock
How to Make Mango Tea?
Making mango tea at home is quite simple once you have the necessary ingredients. While most mangoes in the store come without leaves, you can find the dried leaves in pre-packaged tea bags, or you can get the leaves from exotic import stores. Take a look at the recipe below.
Refreshing Mango Tea Recipe
Print Pin RateIngredients
- 3 tbsp of dried mango leaves
- 2 cups of filtered water
- 1 tbsp of lemon syrup
- 2 tsp honey
Instructions
- To make mango tea, bring a saucepan of water to boil.
- Add 3 tablespoons of dried mango leaves to a tea infuser or teapot.
- Allow the leaves to steep for approximately 5 minutes (7 for a stronger brew).
- Strain the leaves, then add honey or sugar, as desired. You can also add 2 teaspoons of lemon juice to give it a citrusy flavor.
- If you wish to have it cold, (which most people do), simply allow it to cool and add ice cubes. You can also refrigerate it for a few hours and then have it chilled. Either way, enjoy the drink!
Notes
Mango Tea Benefits
There are a number of important health benefits of mango tea that include:
- Might prevent symptoms of hypertension
- May help manage diabetes
- May improve immune function
- Might help in boosting heart health
- May help in improving digestion
Let us look at the benefits in detail below:
May Help Manage Diabetes
A study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research points to the ability of this tea to better regulate the release of blood sugar and insulin in the body. There are also other researches that are known to praise the healing properties of mangoes in repairing damaged blood vessels near the pancreas. [2]
May Improve Blood Pressure
Mango and its active ingredients have long been known to suppress blood pressure, and the same is true of this fruit tea. With possibly high levels of vitamin A, B, and C, this tea can quickly balance your metabolism and prevent the symptoms of hypertension. [3]
May Improve Immune System
Vitamin C and vitamin A function as potential antioxidants in this tea, along with other phytonutrients and phenolic compounds, which can reduce the strain on the immune system and prevent a number of infections and pathogens. Vitamin C also helps to rebuild damaged blood vessels. [4]
May Lower Instance of Chronic Disease
Mangiferin is a polyphenolic antioxidant found in mango leaves that has been directly linked to neutralizing free radicals and preventing oxidative stress, which can help to lower the risk of chronic diseases. [5]
May Improve Digestion
Studies have indicated that the regular use of mango tea is an excellent way to stimulate normal digestion and regular bowel movements, thus possibly lowering your risk of constipation and other gastrointestinal issues. [6]
