In 2008, a team of researchers found that patients with high blood pressure were able to ease their condition in six weeks - simply by drinking hibiscus tea every day. This was not the first study to examine hibiscus' benefit, but its results were impressive. Since then, scores of studies have tested hibiscus tea on everything from diabetes to brain function. The consensus: It's a powerful antioxidant that has a wide range of benefits, most notably an ability to lower cholesterol and blood pressure.

Don't have high blood pressure? Hibiscus tea can still help cool you down on a hot day, protecting your body against aging while making your head feel more clear. It's a perfect summer drink: Easy, delicious and packed with benefits.