Lotus tea is a traditional Vietnamese green tea that has been flavored with the scent of the lotus plant. A specialty product widely marketed by the Vietnamese tea industry, it has become a traditional element of many Vietnamese celebrations. Some claim lotus tea provides health benefits above and beyond the usual benefits of green tea.
Production
Traditional preparations of the tea are rather involved. Green tea leaves may be wrapped within the lotus flower for a night, or alternatively the stamen and anthers of the lotus flower may be stored overnight in an airtight jar with the green tea leaves, or the tea leaves are baked with the stamen or anthers. This process is repeated several times to imbue the tea leaves with a strong aromatic infusion of the lotus scent. Traditionally, one thousand lotus flowers provide the flavor for one kilogram of lotus tea. In the modern production of lotus tea, manufacturers streamline the process and often use natural or artificial oils to provide the lotus flavor.
Lotus Plant in Food
The lotus is a water lily that originated in China, but which is now found in many Southeast Asian countries. The lotus plant is commonly used as a food flavoring in Asian cuisine. Imparting an anise-like flavor to foods and beverages, all parts of the lotus plant find their way into desserts, appetizers, beverages and main dishes.
Lotus Plant and Medicine
The root and seeds are considered to provide the greatest medicinal value. Lotus seeds are thought to benefit the spleen, kidney and heart and to help stop diarrhea, according to Institute of Traditional Medicine. The leaves and stamen are thought to assist the heart and kidney. The stamen contains flavonoids and alkaloids, potent antioxidants with varied health benefits. The medical claims for lotus have not necessarily been validated through rigorous, peer-reviewed research, so seek consultation from your physician regarding medical conditions you may have. In any case, the contribution of the lotus plant to the health benefits of lotus tea may be a mute point, as many teas distributed in the U.S. may be processed to include only trace amounts of actual lotus plant.
Lotus Leaf Tea
Lotus leaves for tea or other tinctures or lotus leaf tea can be obtained online or through specialty and health markets. Lotus leaves contain high levels of phytochemicals, favonoids and tannins that protect the plant from fungal and bacterial infections. These chemicals serve as potent antioxidants when released into your steeped tea.
Green Tea and Antioxidants
Whether or not a particular lotus tea benefits from the tincture of lotus it contains, the green tea leaves that serve as the substrate of any lotus tea are loaded with polyphenols. Polyphenols are powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, unstable oxygen molecules that scavenge electrons, damaging or destroying cells. The antioxidants in green tea can help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, various types of cancer, diabetes, liver disease and obesity, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center and Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
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