Banana tea is a warm drink that is straightforward to prepare. Its pleasant taste and aroma make it increasingly popular. And we suggest some beneficial properties for this tea! Even scientists recognize banana tea benefits as rich in vitamins and minerals that can help keep our bodies healthy. Bananas are rich in potassium, magnesium, and manganese, which play an essential role in the proper functioning of our body.
Bananas in Brief
This fruit probably needs no introduction, as everyone knows it well. But anyway, I want to tell you a little about it. The banana (Musa) belongs to the perennial grass genus of the banana family. Around 80 species of banana are known worldwide. It is native to Southeast Asia and grows in tropical to subtropical climates, mainly in Africa, Asia, the Malay Archipelago, and Latin America.
Bananas can grow for up to 30 years in the same place. Sometimes, the plant grows up to 15 meters, but most reach 6 meters tall. The leaves are large, up to 4 m long. Banana flowers are single and double, clustered in a cluster, like a huge bunch. The fruit is a banana, which grows in clusters.
8 Banana Tea Benefits, Based on Research
Because you use raw bananas and water to make banana tea, it will contain water-soluble nutrients: vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, manganese, and copper. This tea will be calorie-less if you remove the bananas from the tea after brewing.
Scientists have studied several benefits of banana tea:
Banana Tea Is Rich in Antioxidants
According to scientific studies, bananas are rich in water-soluble antioxidants. These are dopamine and gallocatechin, which can help fight free radicals and prevent chronic diseases. Interestingly, the antioxidant content of the banana peel is much higher than that of its flesh. Therefore, banana peel tea benefits your health too.
Can Help You Fall Asleep More Easily
Bananas or banana tea are a popular sleep aid for people with insomnia. According to research, bananas contain nutrients that make it easier to fall asleep and can improve sleep quality. These include potassium, magnesium, and tryptophan. Tryptophan is an amino acid for the sleep-inducing hormones serotonin and melatonin production. Potassium and magnesium are also associated with better sleep quality and duration.
May Improve Mood
The dopamine and serotonin in banana tea can also help regulate hormone levels and improve mood. Incorporating banana tea into your diet can be an effective and natural way to help a depleted nervous system.
Can Prevent Bloating
Banana tea is rich in potassium, which is crucial for fluid balance. In addition, studies show that bananas or their tea can help prevent bloating.
Bananas Are Low in Sugar
Banana tea can be a perfect substitute for sugary drinks. Banana releases only a trace of sugar into the water when the tea is brewed and act as a natural sweetener.
Can Support A Healthy Heart
The nutrients in banana tea can help heart health. According to research, potassium, and magnesium help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. In fact, a study of 90,137 women found that consumption of potassium-containing products was associated with a 27% lower risk of stroke. In addition, a diet rich in catechins—the antioxidants found in banana tea—may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Favorable for Pregnant Women
Bananas may also be beneficial for pregnant women because of the substances they contain. They help fight fatigue. They are rich in fast-resorbing sugars, so eating bananas, especially in the last trimester of pregnancy, can give you energy.
Can Help You Lose Weight
The magnesium in banana tea helps improve metabolism and fat burning. Therefore, banana tea suppresses appetite and reduces the urge to snack.
The History of Banana Tea
History says that banana tea first originated in Southeast Asia. Therefore, residents considered bananas a “fruit of Eve.” Banana tea has been the subject of legends, recipes, and traditions.
Banana tea has been the subject of legends, recipes, and traditions. Later, the banana tea recipe migrated from the East to India, Africa, and Polynesia, reaching Singapore and the Philippines. Later, the beverage arrived in America and Europe. Many people enjoy this tea. In some places, people believe that the banana is the first fruit on Earth. It means that banana tea has many powers and is considered a drink for the gods.
You already know that remarkable banana tea benefits; it’s time to learn how to make it.
Banana Tea Recipe
You can make the tea by adding a banana fruit or a banana slice with a peel. The process is the same, but the banana does not need to peel. You need only to wash it thoroughly and cook it a little longer, about 10–15 minutes.
You need:
- 1 medium banana
- 750 ml of water
- a pinch of cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon honey
Preparation:
- Pour the water into a saucepan and bring to a boil. Peel the banana, cut off both ends, and place it in the boiling water. Reduce the heat and leave to simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Remove the tea from the stove and leave to cool. Add cinnamon and honey.
- Remove the banana and drink. If you don’t drink it all at once, keep it in the fridge and drink it cold or warmed within 1-2 days.
Strawberry, Ginger, and Banana Tea
This is a very aromatic tea with a pleasant fruity acidity. This combination provides the following benefits of banana tea: it will relieve your cold symptoms and become an excellent refresher or thirst quencher on a hot day.
You need:
- 500 mL of water
- 1 tablespoon of green tea leaves
- 1/3 larger banana
- 5-7 fresh strawberries
- 1 teaspoon of fresh or dried grated ginger
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
Preparation:
- Mash the strawberries with a fork and cut the banana into small pieces.
- Put the green tea, ginger, mashed strawberries, and banana in a saucepan or kettle and cover with boiling water.
- Leave the tea to steep for 10-15 minutes and pour in the lemon juice.
- You can strain the tea and flavor it with honey before drinking.
Banana Tea Before Bedtime
This is a delicious and relaxing drink before bedtime.
You need:
- 1 banana
- 400 mL of water
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 teaspoon honey
Preparation:
- Add the cinnamon stick to the water and bring to a boil.
- Cut off both ends of the banana and throw it into the boiling water. You can peel the fruit if you wish, but it is unnecessary because it is rich in nutrients.
- Let the banana boil for 10 minutes on low heat. Then, switch off the stove to cool down.
- Strain the tea and add honey before drinking.
The Benefits of Banana Tea And Milk Drink for Cough
The peel and flesh of the banana contain beneficial substances that help relieve coughs and soothe sore throats. So, we recommend trying milk and banana peel tea benefits when sick.
You need:
- 250 mL milk
- 1 banana
- 1 teaspoon honey
Preparation:
- Wash the banana, cut it into small pieces, and cover it with milk.
- Bring the mixture of milk and banana to a boil and cook for 10–12 minutes over minimum heat.
- Remove the cooked drink from the stove, let it cool down, and remove the banana pieces.
- Add honey to the slightly cooled drink.
- Drink 50 ml per day.
Can Banana Tea Cause Side Effects?
Bananas do not have any side effects. Almost everyone can consume bananas and banana tea in small quantities. There are only a few cases where you should not consume banana tea:
- Ischemic heart disease.
- Pancreatitis and gastrointestinal ulcers. Avoid this drink during exacerbations of these diseases.
- Varicose veins and thrombosis.
Of course, although bananas have virtually no side effects, you should always consult your doctor before using them for therapeutic purposes.
Conclusion
IMPORTANT! Bananas mainly imported to Europe are from Central and South America, where they are grown on huge plantations. Banana producers use a lot of chemicals to control pests and plant diseases. After harvesting, the bananas are again sprayed with fungicides to protect the fruit from rotting and moldering in transit. As you have probably gathered by now, it is better not to use the peel of such bananas for tea, even if you wash it thoroughly. It is better to choose organically grown bananas for this purpose, which must be washed very carefully under running water before use.
As you have already realized, banana tea can be a tasty beverage, especially useful for your health. It contains vitamins and nutrients that help to improve digestion, prevent serious illnesses, and ensure a remarkable night’s sleep. In addition, banana tea can help you with your diet and weight loss.
Sources:
Research:
- https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30684032/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30248967/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30446708/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22616015/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23953879/
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1472029909002215
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8477870/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23853635/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14506306/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25407790/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22622709/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20308626/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28843443/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23558164/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25190445/
Associative photos from © Canva.
