Hibiscus Sex Benefits (Including Hibiscus Tea)

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You may know flowers as symbols of beauty. But flowers symbolize many things including love, friendship, joy and peace and they adorn events that revere life, love, and change. But personally, I am not a fan of receiving cut flowers. I’d much rather the flowers live longer than a week, surviving happily in soil so they don’t die quickly. I want to celebrate their beauty for more than a few days, and I want to enjoy the sexual health benefits of hibiscus and other nutritious flowers.

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The romantic benefits of cooking with flowers

You might be surprised by my suggestion that you could get sex benefits from ingesting the petals of hibiscus or any other flower. Unfortunately, today, flowers like hibiscus are rarely spoken of for anything other than their decorative uses. But historically, they brought meaning and nutrition to the table. You won’t believe how many hibiscus sex benefits you can tap into just by enjoying these beautiful blooms.

Lotus flowers, lilacs, violets, nasturtiums, roses, carnations, and lavender are popular blooms. They are aesthetically appealing. And many are also known for appealing aromatics. But what many lovers of these glorious blooms might not realize is that all of these flowers are nutrient-rich.

It would be nice to believe that the recent trend of sprinkling farm-to-table cuisine with edible flowers had something to do with nutritional impact. But it’s more likely that chefs use edible blossoms for the color. And while I think most chefs don’t know it, the flowers adorning their salads, cocktails and decorating desserts are beautiful on the inside as well as the outside.

Hibiscus nutrition for sex

According to the USDA, hibiscus flowers contain a surprising number of nutrients including sex-boosting vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium and vitamin C. In addition, research on hibiscus extract demonstrates some promising health benefits although it should be pointed out that much of this research is in its infancy.

Within each silky petal, these glorious blossoms carry antioxidants. This means that all those prized petals aren’t just pretty. They’re anti-carcinogenic and offer vitamins that strengthen the immune systems and cellular structure. There is even evidence that hibiscus can reduce blood pressure, which will not only impact heart health but also play a role in supporting sexual performance.

While most of the flowers remain nothing more than decoration as far as the food community is concerned, nutrition science is catching on to the potential of this pretty petal to support health and wellness.

Hibiscus sex benefits for men

Hibiscus is considered an androgenic plant. This means that it has properties similar to the male hormone androgen. You would naturally assume that this means it will give male sex drive a boost. However, the research on the benefits of androgenic plants on men’s sex lives is lacking. Yet there is research to suggest that hibiscus could be detrimental, at least in so far as fertility is concerned.

In lab studies, rats given hibiscus extract appeared to experience decreased sperm production. You could view this as good news if you were looking for a natural, male contraceptive. But for couples looking to conceive, hibiscus may be a hindrance.

That being said, hibiscus does have benefits that can help men in the bedroom–so long as they aren’t looking to make babies. Hibiscus is rich in anthocyanins, a group of antioxidants in the flavonoid family. When consumed regularly, they are linked with a reduced erectile dysfunction incidence.

According to The Journal of Phytopharmacology, hibiscus is also proven to enhance male sexual behavior, at least in rats. While the study failed to report whether hibiscus extract has the same effect on humans, it proved conclusively that the administration of hibiscus leaf extract had the effect of making lab rats mighty frisky.

The benefits of hibiscus tea sexually

More is written and told of the use of hibiscus tea as an aphrodisiac than that of the fresh flowers or leaves. Not surprisingly, hibiscus tea has been the subject of a good deal of nutritional study and research. Steeping this flower in near-boiling water pulls many nutrients out of the hibiscus with surprising effectiveness.

I should pause here to clarify that what I’m speaking of is not tea flavored with hibiscus but the herbal infusion of hibiscus flowers, which is commonly, although inaccurately, referred to as tea.

According to NutritionFacts.org, the benefits of hibiscus tea include fighting free radicals and reducing blood pressure. Its ability to promote heart health is likely why hibiscus infusions are considered aphrodisiac.

Studies indicate that hibiscus herbal tea may serve as an aid to weight loss. Although this doesn’t necessarily have an impact on sexual performance, weight issues can hinder the sexual experience. So although in this way drinking hibiscus tea won’t directly impact your sex life, it could offer indirect benefits by supporting a healthy weight. However, beware that the acidity of the tea can hurt tooth enamel.

Cooking & serving suggestions

Dried hibiscus flowers can be steeped to make a caffeine-free herbal tea for an acidic and eye-opening alternative to caffeine in the morning. The flowers are sold in most natural foods retailers and on Amazon. You can also buy pre-packaged hibiscus tea bags from many grocery stores.

Hibiscus tea can also be blended with honey or your favorite sweetener and pureed fresh fruits to create tasty and nutritious popsicles. Or try these gorgeous hibiscus flowers in syrup as an easy way to dress up a glass of sparkling wine.

More hibiscus cocktails:

Adam & Eve Martini

Sorrel Hot Toddy

Disclaimer: Please note that the information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and not to replace medical care. It is important to consult your physician before making dietary changes. More information

This article was written in 2016 and most recently updated in February 2024.

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Delahna Flagg

Delahna Flagg is a nutrition expert with a PhD in Holistic Health from Saybrook University as well as a classically trained chef and graduate of the California School of Culinary Arts. She is best recognized as the chef and co-star of Pamela Anderson's The Sensual Vegan web series. Her work on the series helped her develop into an authority on vegan recipe development and the nutritional needs of a vegan lifestyle. Delahna also has experience as a line cook and restaurant sous chef and she is the owner of a special events catering company, My World on a Plate, specializing in delicious, nutritious foods. As a nutritional consultant, she is a Center for Mind-Body Medicine practitioner. She also works as a nutritional value recipe development consultant. Delahna is the co-author of Amazon bestselling dessert cookbook Eat Cake Naked and has served as our Director of Nutrition for over ten years.