Saffron Tea Benefits

What is Saffron Tea?

Saffron tea is an exotic floral tea popular among consumers because of its substantial health benefits. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This pricey tea is herbal, and the leaves are harvested from dried stigmas. These represent the various styles of saffron flowers available for making tea. The drink is usually formed out of the crocus from the lily family. The flower’s scientific name is Crocus sativus L, typically requiring three years to mature from seed to flower. The plant then only blooms for about three to four weeks during October and November. You can harvest 3-4 flowers from a single Saffron plant, each bearing 3-4 stigmas. 

Natural Saffron tea differs from commercial saffron tea bags, which may be mixed with caffeine. A large volume is required to produce the saffron leaves needed for the tea. The extract is powerful but delicate to collect, meaning the process can only be done by hand. This feature makes saffron tea quite costly to purchase. When you buy organic Saffron tea, you can expect it to be caffeine free.

Saffron tea has many applications but is mainly used for culinary purposes. Consumers purchase this to add colour and flavour to foods as a dye. Manufacturers also use its powerful spicy aroma as a perfume ingredient. This flower tea has historically been used to treat urinary tract infections, stomach issues, wounds, and depression.

Chemical properties of Saffron Tea?

Saffron tea is made from a flower that typically contains crocin, picrocrocin and safranal.

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Nutritional Facts of Saffron Tea

To prepare a cup of Saffron tea, you must harvest 4-5 saffron strands or threads. These strands are then dried or ground into powder. A single cup would give the consumer a significant concentration of anthocyanin, alpha-carotene and beta-carotene. The drink also contains B vitamins and various other carotenoids and antioxidants.

A single cup of Saffron tea contains:

• Calories: 12
• Protein: 0 grams
• Fat: 0 grams
• Carbohydrates: 3 grams
• Fibre: 0 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams

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Benefits of Saffron Tea

Powerful antioxidants

Saffron flower tea is a functional beverage that can provide the human body with various plant compounds. These antioxidants provide defences against the cells against free radicals and oxidative stress. You will primarily find crocin, crocetin, safranal and kaempferol in Saffron tea. Carotenoid is what makes Saffron tea red, and it is known to have antidepressant properties, revitalize brain cells, reduce inflammation and improve weight loss.

Stimulate Brain Function

Safranal is another ingredient in Saffron that brings a strong taste and aroma to the flower tea. This compound helps improve memory and learning ability. It reduces the oxidative stress experienced by the brain cells. You can also expect reduced inflammation, anti-cancer properties, and antidepressant activity.

Anti-Cancer Properties

The Saffron flower contains antioxidants, which neutralize harmful free radicals. A buildup of harmful free radicals can reportedly lead to chronic diseases like cancer. The Saffron flower has been found to kill colon cancer cells or suppress their growth. It can also help prevent skin, bone marrow, prostate, lung, breast and cervix problems. Studies show that cancer cells are more sensitive to chemotherapy drugs when exposed to Saffron.

Can ease PMS symptoms

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) often comes with significant physical, emotional, and psychological pain. Women who experience this sometimes turn to Saffron flower tea to treat PMS symptoms. Studies show that 30 mg of Saffron daily helps to improve PMS symptoms such as irritability, headaches, cravings, and pain. Reports suggest even the aroma of the Saffron flower can help with anxiety and produce lowered levels of cortisol.

Aphrodisiac Qualities

Consumers often consume aphrodisiacs to help improve their levels of libido. Saffron tea has aphrodisiac properties. A daily dose of 30 mg of Saffron is usually enough to help substantially improve erectile function. When combined with antidepressants, studies have shown there will be improvements in low sexual desire. Some results include reduced sex-related pain and increased sexual desire, and lubrication.

Improved weight loss

Drinking Saffron tea helps to ease a person’s appetite. This tea allows consumers to feel significantly more full. A sense of fullness often means people snack less frequently. This move led to consumers having a lower body mass index, waist circumference, and total fat mass.

Reduced heart disease risk 

Cholesterol typically causes the body’s blood vessels and arteries to clog. Drinking Saffron flower tea will help the body absorb antioxidants. These have the effect of lowering blood cholesterol. When blood flow improves, the body’s blood sugar levels will begin to drop. 

Improved Eyesight 

As the human body matures, adults often begin to experience age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is unavoidable; however, it can be postponed by protecting against free radical damage. Drinking Saffron flower tea is often used to improve eyesight in adults.

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Potential downsides

• Saffron flower tea should be consumed in appropriate amounts. In excess, the tea can become toxic.  
• Saffron is a common allergenic that typically comes with an allergy to olives. This means it is best to try it in small quantities before consuming the drink daily. 
• Saffron can sometimes cause the body to stimulate uterine contractions. For this reason, pregnant women should avoid the beverage.   
• The increase in energy and blood flow can cause heart conditions in some consumers. Consuming large amounts can end up affecting the heartbeat. Arythymmia is a common symptom found in people with heart conditions.
• Low Blood Pressure concerns. Consumers who have low blood pressure should steer clear of this drink. It has calming agents that reduce blood pressure.

How to make Saffron Tea?

For this recipe of Saffron tea, you will need:

• 2 cups water
• 1/Saffron teabag or 3 to 4 strands of saffron
• One teaspoon of agave nectar for sweetness
• Mint leaves for freshness
• Lemon wedges for a fresh citrusy note

Steps to make saffron tea

1. Bring filtered water to a boil; when the water is boiling, turn off the heat. 
2. Add the saffron and agave to a warm cup. 
3. Add the boiling water and stir for a few minutes until the tea has turned bright yellow.

How many cups of Saffron can you drink?

One cup of Saffron flower tea is often enough to realize its full benefits. To avoid having too much caffeine in a single day, you shouldn’t consume more than three cups of Saffron tea.