Carqueja Tea: 9 Health Benefits & How to Make It

Updated in January 2024
Scientifically proven

Carqueja tea has several health benefits, which include regulating blood pressure and blood sugar, strengthening your immune system and improving digestive problems. To achieve a therapeutic effect, it can be consumed up to 3 times a day.

Carqueja tea is made from the leaves of the carqueja plant, which is a medicinal plant scientifically known as Baccharis trimera. It can be found in health food stores and farmer’s markets.

Carqueja has hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antihypertensive and diuretic properties, which can contribute to wellbeing in several ways. The main benefits of carqueja tea include: 

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  1. Diabetes management: This can tea can decrease the rates of sugar absorption from food, which helps to control sugar spikes. This effect continues to be studied, however. 
  2. Liver detox: This tea contains flavonoids that protect the liver. 
  3. Blood pressure management: Which can be favorable for people diagnosed with hypertension;
  4. Improvement of digestive problems: This tea helps to protect the stomach from ulcers, as it contains substances that decrease gastric acid secretion. 
  5. Cholesterol management: The saponins found in this tea’s composition can help to prevent the absorption of cholesterol
  6. Decreases inflammation: It can help to decrease systemic inflammation. 
  7. Weight loss: This tea can be an excellent complement to a weight loss diet as it reduces appetite
  8. Relieves fluid retention: The diuretic components in this tea stimulate fluid excretion, which can help with swelling. 
  9. Strengthens the immune system: The antioxidant properties found in this tea help to combat foreign invadors. 

Drinking carqueja tea can result in many health benefits due to the substances found in the plant, like phenolic compounds, saponins, flavones and flavonoids. However, the use of this plant is contraindicated for many people. It should especially be avoided in women who are pregnant and breastfeeding. It is also important to note that large doses of carqueja tea can be harmful. 

How to prepare carqueja tea

Making carqueja tea is relatively simple and quick.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of chopped carqueja leaves
  • 500 ml of water.

Preparation

Place the ingredients in a pot and simmer for about 5 minutes. Then remove from heat, cover the pot and allow it to cool. Once cool, you can strain the infusion and drink. To reap all the benefits of carqueja tea, you should drink up to 3 cups of this tea a day.