Banana Tea
Bananas are one of the world’s most popular fruits. They’re highly nutritious…
…have a wonderful sweet taste, and serve as the main ingredient in many recipes. Bananas are even used to make as a tea, banana tea. The best way to enjoy bananas is by eating them fresh or frozen. However, if you want to use your bananas for something else, there are several ways that you can do it. Here we will discuss how to prepare banana tea.
What Is Banana Tea Exactly?
Tea made from bananas has been around since ancient times. It was originally called “bannan-cha” which means ‘tea with bananas’. In Japan, this drink is known as “konnyaku cha”. Today, people often refer to any kind of tea prepared using bananas as “banana tea”. This includes green teas such as sencha, matcha, gyokuro, etc., black teas like kukicha, oolong, puerh, pu-erh, and white teas like chrysanthemum, hibiscus, jasmine, yunomiya, etc.
So, What’s Special About Banana Peel Tea?
Banana tea, given approximately an hour before bed, can help relax the nervous system and prepare the body for deep sleep. This is due to the presence of potassium and magnesium in banana peels, both of which are natural muscle relaxants. Magnesium is known as the “magic mineral” since it aids in hormone balance, stress relief, detoxification, and other functions.
They also include “the amino acid L-tryptophan, which in the brain is converted to 5-HTP.” In turn, 5-HTP is converted to serotonin (a calming neurotransmitter) and melatonin,” also known as the sleep hormone. Although I don’t suggest taking melatonin on a daily basis, I think it’s a good idea to provide the body with all of the elements it needs to produce its own. Oh, and bananas are high in antioxidants like lutein, which helps to protect the eyes and skin from UV radiation.
Some antioxidants, such as vitamin C, are heat sensitive and degrade when exposed to hot water. Fortunately, lutein is heat stable and will remain in the banana tea even after the peels have been cooked.
Banana Tea Benefits
There are numerous health benefits associated with drinking banana tea. These include:
- Weight loss – Drinking banana tea helps reduce body fat because it contains high amounts of fiber. Fiber increases satiety, reduces hunger levels, and slows down digestion so that less calories get absorbed into the bloodstream.
- Heart Health – Eating bananas regularly lowers cholesterol levels, improves blood flow, and strengthens heart muscles.
- Digestion – Bananas contain digestive enzymes that help break down food more easily. Additionally, they also aid in relieving constipation.
- Skin Care – Bananas are rich in vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese, phosphorus, calcium, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, folate, pantothenic acid, biotin, and vitamins A & C. All these nutrients promote healthy skin and hair growth.
- Energy Boost – Bananas are packed with energy! One medium sized banana provides about 100% of our daily recommended intake of Vitamin B6. Moreover, bananas are loaded with carbohydrates, protein, dietary fibers, minerals, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds. Therefore, when consumed on a regular basis, they provide an instant boost of energy.
How Do You Brew Your Banana Tea?
You may use either fresh or frozen bananas. If you want to freeze them first, simply cut off their ends and place them in freezer bags. Then, once they’re completely frozen, transfer them to resealable plastic containers. You’ll need to let them sit out overnight until soft enough to mash up. Once mashed, add 1 cup of hot tap water per 2 cups of banana pieces and stir well. Let the mixture steep for 10 minutes then strain through cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Enjoy immediately.
If you prefer not to boil the bananas, just slice them lengthwise and put them in a saucepan along with 3 cups of cold water. Bring the water to a simmer over low heat. Cover the pan and allow the bananas to cook gently for 15–20 minutes. Remove the lid and continue cooking for another 20 minutes. Strain the liquid and enjoy right away.
What If My Bananas Aren’t Ripe Yet? Can I Still Make Banana Tea?
Yes, but it won’t taste nearly as good. Ripe bananas have much higher sugar content than unripe ones. So, if you’ve got some slightly underdeveloped fruit lying around, try making banana ice cream instead.
Was this helpful?
Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
