Pomegranate Tea: 11 Benefits, How to Make & Side Effects

Pomegranate tea is made with the peel of the fruit, which is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory substances, like polyphenols, flavonoids and tannins.

Pomegranate peel can help to control blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and also helps to keep the gums healthy. However, these benefits were seen in studies that used pomegranate peel capsules, mouthwashes or pomegranate juice, and there are still no studies on the tea itself.

Pomegranate tea should not replace treatment prescribed by a doctor. Before drinking this tea for health purposes, it is important to consult a doctor, especially for people who take medication for diabetes or high blood pressure.

Health benefits

Compounds present in pomegranate peel have been studied for:

1. Oral Health Support: mouthwashes and extracts containing pomegranate peel have shown antimicrobial properties that may help reduce plaque and support gum health.
2. Antioxidant Protection: the high concentration of tannins and flavonoids can help neutralize free radicals, protecting cells from oxidative stress associated with chronic conditions.
3. Digestive Support: in traditional folk medicine, pomegranate peel preparations are normally used to help soothe mild digestive upset and diarrhea due to the astringent action of its tannins.
4. Supporting Heart and Metabolic Health: preliminary studies on pomegranate compounds suggest they may help support healthy blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and cholesterol balance.
5. Metabolic and Joint Health: anti-inflammatory properties of pomegranate polyphenols may influence joint inflammation (such as in arthritis) and glucose metabolism.
6. Preliminary Cancer Research: in laboratory settings, certain pomegranate extracts have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the growth of specific cancer cell lines. However, these laboratory findings do not imply that drinking pomegranate tea can prevent or treat cancer in humans.

Although it contains many health benefits, pomegranate tea should not substitute your doctor's prescribed treatment. Pomegranate tea taken to achieve health goals should be monitored by a doctor or medicinal plant specialist.

How to make pomegranate tea

The part that is normally used to make pomegranate tea is the peel, which is where active substances with medicinal properties are found.

Ingredients

• 3-5 g of pomegranate peel (approx. 1 teaspoon)
• 1 cup of water (200 ml)

How to prepare

Wash the pomegranate thoroughly before peeling, if using fresh peels. Add the pomegranate peels to a pot with water and boil. Allow it to simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from heat. Cover the pot and allow the tea to steep for an additional 5 minutes. Then wait for it to cool and drink 1 to 2 cups per day.

In addition to the tea, pomegranates can be consumed in their natural form or used to make smoothies.

Possible side effects

The most common side effects of pomegranate tea are nausea, vomiting and stomach irritation. In studies with pomegranate peel extract, side effects were usually mild and short-lived.

There is no safety data on high doses or long-term use of pomegranate peel tea. For this reason, it should be consumed in moderation and only under the guidance of a doctor or medicinal plant specialist.

Pomegranate tea can also cause severe allergic reactions that require immediate medical attention. People who have difficulty breathing, wheezing, throat tightness, swelling of the mouth, tongue or face, or intense itching should stop drinking the tea and seek emergency care right away.

Contraindications for use

Pomegranate tea should not be consumed by children under 2 nor by women who are pregnant or breastbeeding. It should also be avoided by people with stomach ulcers, as it can further irritate the stomach.

Pomegranate tea should additionally be avoided by anyone with an allergy to this fruit.