FOOD & DRINK: Simply Hibi Juice and Tea

(Reviewed by Eden Carter Wood)

What with the new government and the chill in the air and all, many of us feel we could use a drink. When one has a day job, however, one must exercise restraint and make those beverages organic and 100% natural. Oh, and not vodka.

As luck would have it, Ibis Organics, makers of unique hibiscus drink Simply Hibi, have recently launched a new Simply Hibi Whole Flower Hibiscus Tea. Organically grown in Uganda, the tea is made from hibiscus flowers and is said to 'strike the perfect balance of flavour and colour – its vibrant ruby red appearance and delicious fruity, rich flavour, brimming with berries is a great way to treat your taste buds, leaving other flavourless herbal teas in the shade.'

It's very simple to make, so I just made a cup a moment ago by adding three flowers (they look a bit like large desiccated spiders!) to a cup of boiling water and let it sit on my desk for a while. It's very nice, if you like herbal tea, which I do, fortunately. I'm also trying to wean myself off coffee, so this helped a lot.

More facts: Hibiscus tea is jam-packed with natural anti-oxidants known as anthocyanins, and has had a little poem written about it in the press release:

hibiscus tea is caffeine free
hibiscus tea is rich in Vitamin C
hibiscus tea has been proven to lower high blood pressure
hibiscus tea has a unique, delicious taste
hibiscus tea has a smooth, pleasant fragrance
hibiscus tea has a distinctive, vibrant, natural colour
hibiscus tea is great served hot or cold

I find this quite Dr Seuss-esque, actually.

There is also a cold Hibiscus drink, which is really good too. A bit like Ribena, but not as sweet. Good stuff.

Simply Hibi Whole Flower Hibiscus Tea is available to buy online at simply hibi.com
A 125g tin costs £4.00. A refill is also available priced at £2.00.

Simply Hibi juice is available to buy nationally in Waitrose and at selected Sainsbury’s and Holland & Barrett. The 1 litre carton is priced from £1.39 and the 250ml bottle is available from £0.90. It can also be found at selected independent health stores, sandwich retailers and coffee shops.

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