Coconut Tea

Coconut tea, prepared from coconut flakes, milk, or cream mixed into green, black or oolong tea is a caffeinated herbal concoction. Some people have this as a hot beverage while some make iced or bubble tea using coconut as the prime ingredient.

History and Origin

The origin of coconut tea is believed to be rooted in Europe, America or China with no historical evidence to prove exactly where it was first made.

Coconut Tea Benefits: What Is It Good For

Effects on Cancer

Its cancer preventive effects may be attributed to the antioxidant properties of coconut and the polyphenols found in green, oolong, and black tea. These antioxidants combat free radicals associated with cell death that leads to serious health disorders like cancer.

For Healthy Heart

According to an animal study carried out on rats with cholesterol, coconut is capable of increasing the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or the good cholesterol and lessening the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol, maintaining a good heart heath. It also helps to keep the triglyceride level in check. It is good for minimizing cardiovascular diseases caused by free radicals. Myocardial problems like strokes are also reduced by these enzymes which are stimulated by coconut. Furthermore, the tea is known to be good for hypertension, further contributing to a healthy heart.

Infection-Fighting Properties

Coconut oil, with its anti-microbial properties like peptide, restrains any sort of bacterial infection by abolishing the gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Moreover, the lauric acid found in coconut milk inhibits any kind of viral and fungal infection. A cup of fresh coconut tea, once in a while, can keep your body free from infections.

 

Good for Liver

The hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties of this tea remove detrimental toxins from the liver. However, studies to find out the connection between coconut tea and liver are in their initial stages.

Aids in Weight Loss

Coconut tea is good for shedding weight by reducing the appetite, speeding up the metabolism, and inhibiting the activities of fat-building enzymes.

How to Make Coconut Tea

Coconut Green Tea

• Add four tablespoons of green tea to two cups of boiling water
• Strain it and add half cup of coconut water
• Put some ice cubes in serving glasses with two tablespoons of honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice, and one to two tablespoons of tender coconut.
• Pour the green tea and serve

 Coconut Chai Tea

• Boil one teaspoon of peppercorn, eight cardamoms, eight cloves (all in crushed form) and sliced ginger in six cups of water
• Switch off the burner and steep six black tea bags for around five minutes
• Remove the bags and again steep for around ten minutes
• Bring to simmer one cup of milk and one-fourth cup of light brown sugar in another saucepan
• Strain the previously prepared black tea and mix it in this milk mixture
• Hit up the mixture for around one minute and whisk it afterward
• Serve with some cinnamon sticks

Coconut Oil in Tea

• Mix and finely stir one tablespoon of virgin coconut oil in your cup of green tea
• Serve it hot
• For chilled coconut oil tea, refrigerate it before serving

Coconut Milk Tea (Bubble Tea)

• Mix one-third cup of cooked tapioca and three tablespoons of sugar syrup and put it aside
• Blend two-third cups of ice cubes, half cup of coconut milk, one-fourth cup of coconut cream and one tablespoon of syrup
• Serve the entire mixture with the tapioca mixture.

For another variation, you can prepare the coconut boba tea by blending coconut milk, flakes, and ice well, and serve the mixture over boba and smoothies.

 

Safety and Precaution

Side Effects

Usually, this tea does not have any side effects, but excess consumption may lead to several health disorders like diarrhea and nausea. Also, if you are allergic to coconut, refrain from consuming any sorts of coconut tea.

For Pregnant and breastfeeding Women

Since green tea is considered safe in moderation in pregnancy, an occasional cup of coconut green tea does not usually cause any harm. Moreover, coconut is believed to be good for common concerns like morning sickness, and constipation during this period. However, drinking too much of it may not be good due to the caffeine content of the tea. Consider decaffeinated teas, and consult your doctor regarding any possible risks.

Where to Buy

There are online and local herbal stores where you will get the green tea, mango oolong tea, almond tea, and black tea infused with coconut flavor in both leaf and bag forms.