April 28, 2022
If you have sipped our recently released Carrot Cake Cuppa Cake® Tea or our best-selling Red Velvet Cuppa Chocolate Tea, you may have noticed a surprising ingredient on the label: beetroot.
Beetroots — often simply referred to as beets — are the taproot portion of the beet plant. These tasty edible roots are known for their vibrant reddish-purple color and myriad wellness benefits. Beets are typically roasted, steamed or boiled and enjoyed in salads and other savory dishes.
Curious to learn why we use beetroot in some of our tea blends? Keep reading to discover the wellness, flavor and natural coloring benefits this superfood has to offer.
1. Wellness Benefits
Beetroot is a nutritional powerhouse, packed with essential vitamins, minerals and healthful plant compounds.* In fact, beets contain nearly every nutrient the human body needs to thrive.
Beets are also in the rare category of vegetables and fruits that boast a deep red-purple color. This hue is derived from a type of naturally occurring red-violet pigment called betacyanins (a subcategory of betalain pigments).
All betalains — and especially betacyanins — are high in antioxidant activity, and may offer anti-inflammatory and detoxification benefits.*
In recent years, beetroot has gained recognition for its potential ability to help regulate blood pressure, reduce muscle fatigue, fight oxidative stress, support immunity and protect against anemia.*
2. Sweet, Earthy Flavor
Beetroot has a distinctive earthy flavor and aroma. Yet beets also have a hint of natural sweetness and tanginess. Their naturally rich, layered taste balances the other flavors found in tea blends like Carrot Cake Cuppa Cake, which features natural vanilla and cream flavors.
The earthy-sweet flavor of beetroot shines in our Organic Hibiscus Beet Ginger SuperDigest Tea®, and is complemented by zesty ginger and the floral-berry flavor of hibiscus.
3. Ruby Red Color
Just as cooked beets bring a welcome pop of color to a plate of vegetables, the red-violet pigments in beetroot also deliver a gorgeous ruby red hue to tea blends. This natural coloring may enhance the tea drinking experience.
In the culinary world, it is a common saying that you eat — or in the case of tea, drink — with your eyes first. When sipping a blend like our Red Velvet Cuppa Chocolate Tea, the addition of beetroot bits ensures that the tea in your cup has the same classic color as a slice of red velvet cake — without the use of artificial dyes.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.