4 Buckwheat Tea Health Benefits and Why It Should Be Your Favourite
Hugely popular in Japan and Korea, buckwheat tea’s light, fragrant, and nutty aroma is delicious whether warm or chilled - but that’s not the only reason why you should make it part of your beverage repertoire!
Contrary to what its name suggests, buckwheat is not a gluten-filled grain, but actually a seed. This gluten- and caffeine-free tea, known as sobacha in Japan, is a flavour-packed way of reducing blood sugar level and ingesting a tonne of natural fibre.
Here are 4 reasons why every day should be a sobacha day:
It can reduce leg swelling
According to a study published in the European Journal of Pharmacology, buckwheat tea is highly effective in treating edema, or water retention, caused by chronic venous insufficiency.
How? Buckwheat tea is a great source of antioxidants, including rutin and vitexin. Rutin, in particular, has great anti-inflammatory properties and is linked to a host of health benefits, including improved blood flow and insulin resistance, as well as reduced leg edema!
It can help with blood sugar control
Buckwheat is an amazing source of fiber, and has been shown to boast a low to medium GI. So this means that it should be safe for most people with type 2 diabetes to consume!
Buckwheat is also the richest food source of D-chiro-inositol, a unique type of soluble carb that reduces blood sugar levels and may benefit diabetes management.
It boosts cardiovascular health
Soba tea’s star antioxidant, rutin, has also been found to cut your risk of heart disease by preventing the formation of blood clots and decreasing inflammation and blood pressure. But that’s not all - another one of buckwheat tea's benefits also boasts other heart-healthy compounds, including magnesium, copper, fiber, and proteins, which all work to improve your blood lipid profile, which then reduces your risk factor for heart disease!
It’s caffeine-free
Many people like to enjoy a cup of green tea in the evening, but the caffeine content in green tea can make it difficult for you to fall asleep later. Buckwheat tea, however, doesn’t contain any caffeine - and that’s what makes it such a great cuppa for those who want a nightcap, or even those who can’t have any caffeine at all.
Savour its rich, nutty flavour at any time of the day and enjoy its impressive health benefits now by shopping your new favourite beverage here!
How to brew buckwheat tea
All you need is your packet of My Naturi buckwheat tea and a saucepan or an electric kettle!
- Boil about 800ml of water
- If preparing in your saucepan, add 2 tbsp (about 20g) of tea to the boiling water and boil for 30 seconds. If preparing in a teapot, add, 20g of tea and boiling water into your teapot.
- Allow the tea to steep for 3-4 minutes - this is the perfect amount of time for maximum flavour!
- Strain your tea
- Serve! You can either serve it piping hot, or enjoy it cold later. Add a dollop of My Naturi honey for a flavour and nutritional boost, if you like your tea with a tinge of sweetness.
- Repeat steps 1 to 5! One serving of dry tea can be steeped 2-3 more times, you just need to add a few minutes to the steeping time.