**Enjoy this refreshing limeade made from hibiscus tea recipe & cool down with Hibiscus today!**

Hibiscus Limeade: The Ultimate Summer Refresher

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As each summer season passes one thing is becoming clearer & clearer, I struggle with the heat. In a perfect world I would live somewhere that gets no hotter than 25C with a nice cool breeze but alas I find myself on the Southern Saskatchewan prairies. It’s funny when people think of Canada they think of igloos, polar bears & dog sleds but they don’t seem to realize what diverse weather we truly get to experience.

With memories of colder days in mind & an attempt to control the heat has led me to the deliciously refreshing cooling summer beverage. I found this recipe in The Healing Garden Cultivating & Handcrafting Herbal Remedies by Juliet Blankespoor & I just had to share.

If you’ve read any of my other posts you may have noticed I’ve mentioned this book a few times & I definitely recommend it to anyone who is interested in making more of their own herbal remedies as well as nutritious & delicious recipes starring some of my favorite herbal allies.

Before we get to today's tasty recipe let’s talk about a few ways we can tackle the heat. I know global warming is no joke & even as I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed 20 today feels hotter than it used to but what can we do to help our bodies adapt to the heat? I have a few suggestions you could try & see which ones might work for you.

Increase your intake of Vitamin C which has been shown to increase the body's tolerance to heat by helping to delay sweat gland fatigue

Eat spicy foods as they make you sweat & sweat is one of the body’s natural mechanisms to help cool you down
Avoid eating high protein foods because digesting high protein foods requires more energy for the body to digest which can increase your body temperature
Graze & snack as supposed to eating large heavy meals
Eat water rich foods

Broccoli water content: 89.3%
Celery water content: 95.43%
Cucumber water content: 95.73%
Tomato water content: 94.52%
Iceberg lettuce contains over 95.64% water
Romaine lettuce water content: 93.47%
Kale water content: 89.63%
Spinach water content: 91.4%
Watercress water content: 95%
Apples water content: 85.56%
Cantaloupe water content: 90.15%
Honeydew melon water content: 89.82%
Peach water content: 88.87%
Strawberries water content: 90.95%
Watermelon water content: 91.45%
Carrot water content: 88.29%
Orange water content: 863.75%
Zucchini water content: 92.73%
Skim Milk water content: 90.84%

Consume coconut water which according to Ayurveda has been helped to quench thirst & balance electrolytes. Another way to balance electrolytes is with Sole Water.
Avoid the sun or outdoors if possible during peak hours of 11AM to 3PM
Soak your feet because their blood vessels are close to the surface & this can help alleviate swelling in the lower body
Consume food & drink with a sour or tart taste like berries, citrus fruits or this hibiscus limeade

Hibiscus Limeade: The Ultimate Summer Refresher

Let’s talk a bit about hibiscus & you’ll see why it is so beneficial in helping to keep the body cool.

Taste

Sour → quenches thirst
Astringent
Slightly sweet

Herbal Actions & Bodily Affinities

Refrigerant helping to cool heat found in the organ systems especially when they are inflamed & this works through some inflammation modulating properties & antioxidant compounds. These effects will be noticed when it is served as a cold infusion rather than a hot tea
Contains mucilaginous properties helping to protect, soothe & cool irritated or inflamed internal tissue
Cardiotonic supporting the cardiovascular system as it has the ability to lower blood pressure & is commonly indicated for a treatment for hypertension
Helps to lower blood sugar & cholesterol levels

Energetics

Cooling
Mixed moistening & drying
Tonifying

Contraindications

Avoid consuming excessively in early pregnancy as it has the ability to stimulate menses due to its emmenagogue effects

Avoid if you are using high blood pressure medication so be sure to consult your health care professionals to make sure there are no adverse effects or interactions

Ruling Planet

Venus

*A refreshing glass of Hibiscus Limeade*

Recipe

2 cups water, plus more as needed

1 cup (25 g) packed dried hibiscus flower

¾ - 1 cup whole cane sugar or coconut sugar

½ cup fresh lime juice (5-6 limes)

4 cups ice for serving

Lime wedges for serving

Equipment

Saucepan
Measuring cup
Spoon
Pitcher

Instructions:

In a small saucepan bring 2 cups of water & dried hibiscus flowers to a boil.
Turn down the heat to medium; simmer covered for 20 minutes
Strain into a large measuring cup, pressing the flowers with a spoon
Add sugar & stir until dissolved
In a large pitcher combine hibiscus tea with lime juice
Bring the final volume up to half a gallon by adding ice & cold water
Serve in ice filled cups with lime wedges

Notes:

In the video for the sugar component I used a rich simple floral syrup which also came from the book, made from 2 cups sugar, 1 cup water infused with ½ cup dried rose buds & 1 cup dried lavender flowers.

Heat sugar & water over medium to low heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Make sure it is only steaming & not boiling
Remove from heat & stir in your herbs covering allowing them to steep for 20 minutes
Strain & refrigerate
Add to iced herbal or green tea