🌿 Rosemary: The Underrated Super Tea
If you had asked me a year ago what rosemary was good for, I would have confidently told you it was that one herb you throw on food to make them look fancy. That was the extent of my knowledge, until I did what any logical, tea-drinking, health-optimizing person with an Asian background would do: I steeped it in hot water to make tea.
Why Rosemary is More Than Just a Fancy Culinary Herb
Rosemary isn’t just for making your kitchen smell like an overpriced Italian bistro. It’s actually packed with bioactive compounds that make it an absolute powerhouse for your health. This humble herb has been flying under the radar while green tea, turmeric and matcha hog all the wellness spotlight. But rosemary? It’s got the goods, too.
1. Brain Boosting Properties
Rosemary contains carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, two compounds that protect brain cells from oxidative stress and may even help prevent neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Since I started drinking rosemary tea, I actually felt the mental clarity and clean energy it gave me, which differs from that of caffeine. If you struggle with brain fog, memory lapses, this might be your new go-to tea.
2. Anti-Inflammatory & Antioxidant Powerhouse
Rosemary also joins the anti-inflammatory squad. Thanks to its rich antioxidant profile, rosemary helps fight oxidative stress, which is basically the thing that makes your body age faster than it should. The flavonoids in rosemary: apigenin, luteolin and quercetin are like tiny warriors fighting off cell damage and keeping you feeling (and looking) youthful.
3. Improves Digestion & Gut Health
Rosemary tea is an underrated digestive aid. It helps with bloating, indigestion and gas. It stimulates bile production, making it easier for your body to break down fats. So if you overdo it on a meal, a cup of rosemary tea might just be the post-dinner hack you never knew you needed.
4. Supports Heart Health & Circulation
Who knew an herb sitting in your spice rack could be so good for you in its own unique way? Rosemary has compounds that help lower blood pressure and improve circulation, meaning better oxygen flow to your brain and body.
5. Hormonal & Stress Balance
Feeling overwhelmed? Stressed? Before you do that, sip on some rosemary tea. Studies suggest rosemary may help lower cortisol levels, aka the stress hormone that keeps us in fight-or-flight mode 24/7. Drinking it regularly may help regulate mood and hormonal balance.
6. Liver Detox & Kidney Support
Rosemary has been traditionally used to support liver function and detoxification. It’s mildly diuretic, meaning it helps flush out excess water and toxins through the kidneys. Think of it as a gentle, herbal reset for your system.
How to Make Rosemary Tea for Maximum Benefits
Since we’re here to extract the most out of rosemary, there’s a method to the madness.
Like with any good thing, how you prepare rosemary tea determines what benefits you’ll get the most. If you’re looking for an immediate mental boost, steeping rosemary in hot water will extract the most carnosic acid and rosmarinic acid, the brain-boosting compounds responsible for sharper focus and neuroprotection. The tradeoffs? Some of the delicate flavonoids and polyphenols, which are responsible for long-term antioxidant benefits, may break down the longer you expose it to heat.
On the other hand, cold steeping rosemary for several hours (or even overnight) allows for a slow, steady extraction of antioxidants like apigenin, luteolin, and quercetin, which are known for their anti-aging and cellular protection properties. The tradeoffs? It won’t have the same fast-acting mental clarity boost as a hot steep.
For the best of both worlds, you can experiment with finding a balance in steeping time, enough heat to release the brain-enhancing compounds but not so much that you lose all the delicate antioxidants. It’s all about what benefits you want to prioritize.
Why Aren’t More People Drinking This?
I honestly have no idea why rosemary tea isn’t more mainstream. It’s like nature’s forgotten superfood, sitting in our spice racks while we spend money on expensive adaptogens and nootropics.
If you want a cognitive boost, anti-aging benefits and an all-around herbal health upgrade, consider giving rosemary tea a try. And if anyone questions your life choices, just hit them with a “It’s an ancient herb with neuroprotective properties” and sip confidently.
Side Note: While rosemary tea is a game-changer, let’s not forget its rightful place in the culinary world. It makes an amazing steak seasoning, especially when cooked with butter. Intaking it as tea is one thing, but rosemary remains one of the most aromatic and flavorful culinary herbs for a reason. So whether you’re sipping it or seasoning with it onto a ribeye, just know it's good for you.