5 Benefits of passion tea (+its risks)

In this article, we will discuss the health benefits and concerns of consuming passion tea and how to brew a passion tea.

What is passion tea?

Passion tea is a herbal tea commercialized by the Lipton Tea Company (1). It is a combination of commonly consumed herbal teas with the addition of cinnamon and passion fruit flavoring.

The ingredients of this tea are hibiscus flowers, natural tropical flavors, citric acid, licorice root, orange peel, cinnamon, rose hips, lemongrass and fruit juice extract (color).

What are the benefits of passion tea?

The benefits of passion tea are the benefits of each ingredient, which are described below:  

Hibiscus flowers

The flowers of hibiscus contain anthocyanins, which are plant pigments with improved antioxidant properties. The use of hibiscus flower tea can reduce blood pressure and cholesterol due to lowering of the LDL cholesterol level in blood (2).

This flower in the form of tea or its extracts is also reported to be effective in preventing and treating diabetes. 

Orange Peel

Orange peel contains flavonoids (polyphenols) which are antioxidants with improved health benefits. Especially hesperidin, one of the main flavonoids found in orange peel, is reported to have anti-inflammatory effect and positive effects on reducing cholesterol (3).

Orange peel contains natural histamine suppressing compounds, which help against respiratory diseases. 

Lemongrass

Lemongrass is related to many benefits, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidant. It is effective in treating fungal infections. The use of lemongrass as a mouthwash was reported to effectively reduce periodontitis. This infectious disease is associated with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases.

The use of lemongrass could also reduce blood cholesterol by reducing the levels of LDL in the blood (4).

Root of Licorice

Licorice has been used for many centuries to treat gastrointestinal disorders as well as respiratory diseases. The effects of this plant are related to the presence of flavonoids (antioxidants), essential oils and other compounds, such as resins and saponins (5).

It can be administered as a medicinal plant against ulcer and viral infections and to protect liver diseases.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is highly appreciated as a food ingredient due to cinnamaldehyde, which has a unique smell and flavor. The benefits of cinnamon, whose main compound is coumarin, are: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activity, and antidiabetic activity.

It can also protect against neurological disorders. The spice contains a high quantity of polyphenols, terpenoids, alcohols and other compounds (6).

What are the possible risks of passion tea?

The possible risks of consuming passion tea are related to the risks present by each one of the ingredients in the tea, in addition to the risks of consuming herbal teas in general, which are the possible high levels of pesticides and heavy metals in the ingredients. The risks are:

Hibiscus flowers

The ingestion of high amounts of hibiscus tea can lead to adverse effects on the liver and also cause gout. High doses of this tea can be toxic (2). 

Orange Peel

Orange peel has no adverse effects, however, due to its bitter flavor, it is not appreciated by all individuals (3). 

Lemongrass

No adverse effect is known due to the consumption of lemongrass.

Root of Licorice

Licorice when ingested in elevated doses can be toxic and lead to convulsions. However, no adverse effects are related to moderate ingestion (5).

Cinnamon

Due to the presence of coumarin, cinnamon cannot be ingested in excessive amounts, as it can have hepatotoxic effects. The safe limit as a food additive should not exceed 2 mg/kg of food (6). 

Poisoning of Heavy Metal

Herbal teas contain high levels of heavy metals and pesticides, according to studies. Arsenal mercury and lead were some of the metals found in the herbal medicine plants, which constitute most of the tea commercialized in the United States (7).

How to brew Tazo Passion tea?

Tazo Passion Tea is available in convenient one-cup teabags. Always use fresh, cold filtered water to boil when you brew the tea (1).

Put in a little hot water, preheat your teapot or mug, and swell around. Put it out, add the teabag. Add boiling water and let the tea steep for 3-5 minutes.

Conclusion              

In this article, we discussed the health benefits and concerns of consuming passion tea and how to brew a passion tea.

Reference

  1. Passion tea. Manufacturer’s website.
  2. Hopkins AL, Lamm MG, Funk JL, Ritenbaugh C. Hibiscus sabdariffa L. in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia: a comprehensive review of animal and human studies. Fitoterapia. 2013, 85, 4-94.
  3. Chatterjee, Shilpi. Therapeutic fruit peels: Their role in preventing lifestyle disorders. Recent Res Sci Technol, 2014, 6, 1.
  4. Subha, Dany S., and Tangde Pradeep. Periodontal therapy with 0.25% lemongrass oil mouthwash in reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases: a 3-arm prospective parallel experimental study. Ethiop j health sci, 2017, 27, 531-540. 
  5. Isbrucker, R. A., and G. A. Burdock. Risk and safety assessment on the consumption of Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza sp.), its extract and powder as a food ingredient, with emphasis on the pharmacology and toxicology of glycyrrhizin. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol, 2006, 46,167-192.
  6. Newerli-Guz, J.; Śmiechowska, M. Health Benefits and Risks of Consuming Spices on the Example of Black Pepper and Cinnamon. Foods 2022, 11, 2746. 
  7. Harris ES, Cao S, Littlefield BA, Craycroft JA, Scholten R, Kaptchuk T, Fu Y, Wang W, Liu Y, Chen H, Zhao Z, Clardy J, Woolf AD, Eisenberg DM. Heavy metal and pesticide content in commonly prescribed individual raw Chinese Herbal Medicines. Sci Total Environ, 2011, 15, 4297-305.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!