Tea Review: Guava Leaves Tea by ABC Tea House

Of the two brands of guava leaves tea I’ve tried, this is my favorite brand. It is from ABC Teahouse of China. The box said it contains 100% guava leaf.

The other brand I’ve had is Hung Phat from Vietnam. The box said it contain guava leaf and fruit. I actually thought this would be better as it contains fruit pieces. But I could not even finish my first cup. Of the whole box, I’ve only used no more then 3 tea bags. It is very bitter tasting. So after seeping the tea for several minutes, I opened up the tea bag from Hung Phat and found there were more then guava leaf and fruit pieces. It also look like small pieces of twigs or bark too. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but they should at least label it on the package. And I would think that more pieces of the guava plant, the better. But in this case, it just taste worse.

The guava tea leaf from ABC Tea House is much smoother tasting and not as bitter. I opened this tea bag and did find all guava leaves. This brand was bought at a Chinese grocery store for $2.99 per box. As I wrote in a previous post, guava leaf has many benefits. In Asian countries, it is mostly used to soothe stomach aches and dieting. But recenlty I found out that it is also suppose to help with menstrual cramps too.

In the past couple of years, my menstrual cramps have been really painful. Studies show that adding more calcium to your diet would help with the cramps. So I drank more milk, ate more cheese and yogurt. Even tried taking calcium supplements, but they all seem to help in the beginning and the pain came back. Now that I started to drink guava tea leaf with the first sign of PMS, I have found that it has also help my mood swings. I have only been drinking this for 1 month and did notice a big improvement on my PMS already. But I can’t say how conclusive it is for me, so I’ll have to wait and see after 3 months of drinking.

Since I am on the subject of guavas this week. I thought I would add the benefits of drinking guava leaf tea. There doesn’t seem to be too much info on this subject in Westernern society or health news. But in Asia, making teas out of fruit leaves are common.

Such leaves include loquats, pomegranate, and guava. Loquats are good for coughs. Pomegranate good for stomach problems, it is also used as a dieter’s tea. Which means it could help suppress your appetite.

My favorite is of the guava leaves, since it is loaded with vitamins, good for your skin, helps lower your cholesterol, and burn fats.

Below is some information on a study made by Bizen Chemical Company in Japan.

MULTIPLE BENEFITS OF GUAVA LEAF EXTRACT POWDER

Guava leaf, anti-oxidizing effect, makes you healthier

Guava is the origin of a tropical America and South-East Asia. Its leaf has been used as health tea. Guava Leaf has a character of strong Superoxide-dismutase-like activity. Because decreasing of free radicals makes anti-oxidizing effect in the body, it can prevent arterial sclerosis, thrombosis, cataract and inhibit senescence of body and skin (1). Also, polyphenolic compounds contained in Guava Leaf have an effect to suspend proceeding of peroxidation reaction in the living body which can be expected to prevent various chronic diseases (2).

Guava leaf, anti-allergic effect, improves atopic dermatitis.

One of factors for atopic dermatitis and other allergies are histamine release from cells. So that it is believed that the inhibition of histamine release from cells can cure atopic dermatitis and other allergies. Guava leaf has an inhibitory effect for the release of histamine from cells (4).

Guava leaf, a-amylase inhibitor, reduces body fat

Obesity is a phenomenon of over-accumulation of body fat and is said to be a risk factor of chronic diseases. Guava leaf has a function to inactive a-amylase as an its inhibitor and to inhibit digestive absorption of lipid as hpase inhibitory effect. However, Guava leaf does not inhibit protease (5). Therefore, because of Guava leaf’s inhibitory activity of decomposition of starch to glucose, it inhibits absorption of glucose into body and inhibits conversion of glucose to body fat. It is believed that Guava leaf is effective for weight control and reducing body fat.

Guava leaf, anti-diabetic effect, reduces blood sugar

Guava leaf has been used as a folk remedy for diabetes and there are studies of Guava leaf for anti-diabetic effect. Guava leaf inhibits the increase in the plasma level of blood sugar, but not to effect on the plasma level of insulin (3).

See also Herb:  Banaba Leaves at Cambree Notes for diabetic tea.

To make your own guava leaf tea Infusion:

Pour 1 cup of lightly boiled water into 1 - 2 teaspoon of herbal leaves in teapot or heat resistant glassware. I like to use a French Press to brew my herbal teas.

Let it steep for 3 - 5 minutes.
For medicinal usage, steep longer for 15-30 minutes.

It should be kept in refrigerator and good to drink the next couple of days.