9 Benefits Of Cranberry Tea For Health And Recipes To Try

Stay fit, healthy, and energetic with this delicious and antioxidant-rich superfood.

Medically reviewed by Silky Mahajan, CSN, CDE
Written by Tanya Choudhary, B.Desgn, ISSA Certified Specialist In Fitness & Nutrition
Edited by Ravi Teja Tadimalla, BSc, Professional Certificate in Food, Nutrition and Health
Fact-checked by Moksha Gandhi, BPharm, Certified Health & Wellness Coach  • 

Many health drinks and juices are cranberry-flavored. This is the most preferred berry by many. Interestingly, cranberry tea is the latest addition to this range. It is being popularized for the array of benefits it offers (1). It is replete with many beneficial nutrients responsible for its beneficial effects (2). You can easily mix cranberry tea with any other juice or tea to enhance its overall taste and goodness.

The refreshing and comforting herbal tea is packed with innumerable health benefits and doesn’t compromise on flavor either, making it an excellent drink to relish in most seasons, especially in autumn or winter when you need that extra bit of warming up.

Drinking cranberry tea is safe and provides numerous health benefits. Filled with vitamins and antioxidants, cranberry tea sure is a delicious way to stay healthy!

protip_icon Know Your Ingredient: Cranberry Tea

What Is It?
Cranberry tea is a sweet concoction of cranberries steeped in water.

What Are Its Benefits?
It has detoxification properties that promote liver health.

Who Can Consume It?
Anyone can drink cranberry tea to attain its benefits.

How Often?
You can drink 2-3 cups of cranberry tea daily.

Caution
Excessive consumption can cause gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea and may increase the risk of getting kidney stones.

Health Benefits Of Cranberry Tea

Woman drinking craberry tea from a cup
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Each cup of cranberry tea contains various minerals and vitamins like Vitamin C, K and E (3). All these nutrients are vital for good health. This small evergreen shrub is one of those treasures of nature that should be a part of your daily diet!

protip_icon Did You Know?
During the 17th century, American voyagers and sailors carried dry cranberries (the key ingredient of cranberry tea) to prevent scurvyi  XA disease caused by severe vitamin C deficiency that results in symptoms like pain, swelling, and bleeding gums. .

Some of the benefits of cranberry tea include:
  1. Drinking this tea helps prevent the occurrence of sores. It also acts as a natural antiseptic, inhibits the growth of bacteria or other microbes in the teeth cavities, and helps prevent oral diseases like gingivitisi  XA common gum disease caused due to poor oral hygiene which results in swollen gums, spontaneous bleeding, and bad breath. (4).
  2. This healthy tea can be taken to reduce weight. It helps to burn fat by flushing out toxins from the body. The weight loss is a result of the organic acids present in the cranberry tea. A blend of green tea and cranberry tea is good for health as they contain essential nutrients and support weight loss.
  1. This cleansing and useful detox tea is useful as it helps the liver, kidney, and lymph carry out their body functions properly (5).
  2. It can also be consumed to increase the metabolism rate of the body. A cup of this medicinal drink can be consumed by an adult to decrease any health problems (6). However, be wary of the dosage – as anything beyond 3 cups may spike blood sugar levels and cause digestive issues.
  1. It is also helpful in treating cancer, especially stomach cancer and breast cancer (7).
  2. It works to reduce the cholesterol level in the body, preventing several cardiovascular diseases (8). It contains powerful antioxidant polyphenols that help reduce the LDL cholesterol and boost heart health.
  3. Cranberry tea even provides good support to the liver to function properly.
  4. Women who suffer from painful periods can drink cranberry tea to get relief. The magnesium in the tea helps relieve cramps and muscle sores during periods.
  5. One of the major benefits of cranberry tea is that it treats UTI (9). Cranberry tea works as a cleansing agent and flushes out the bacteria from the urinary tract, preventing and curing UTI in turn.


protip_icon Trivia
Native Americans drank cranberry tea to calm their nerves and to prevent indigestion.

Recipe Of Cranberry Tea

Glass teapot filled with cranberries and sliced lemons
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Now that you know how good cranberry tea can be for your health, you’ll need a good cranberry tea recipe to brew that perfect cup. The recipe to make this healthy tea is simple.

Ingredients:

      • 2 liters of water
      • 2 teaspoons of instant tea
      • 2 cups of concentrated cranberry juice
      • ½ a teaspoon of white sugar, if desired

Method:

Take a half-gallon container and fill half of it with water. Add two teaspoons of instant tea to it. Top it with sugar according to the taste. Place the lid on top of the container and mix. Now add cranberry juice to this mix and start drinking! But make sure that the juice you use is 100% cranberry juice and is not diluted. It is the acidic property of cranberry juice that helps in clearing UTI and if it is diluted, it just won’t work as well.

Keep reading to learn how you can prepare cranberry tea at home easily.

Easy Cranberry Tea Cake Recipe

Cranberry tea cake
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Ingredients:

  • 2 cups of cranberries
  • 1 cup of sugar
  • ½ cup of almonds, finely chopped
  • ½ cup of brown sugar
  • 2 cups of unbleached flour
  • 1 teaspoon of baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
  • ½ cup of butter
  • ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg
  • ½ pint sour cream

Method:

Combine the chopped cranberries, brown sugar, almonds, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Then, add in the butter, sugar, vanilla, sour cream, and eggs and mix properly. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in another bowl. Stir the flour mix into the egg blend until moistened and then pour half of the batter into a greased cake pan. Spread half of the cranberry mixture over the top and layer the remaining batter and cranberries. Bake it for 50-60 min at 350°F. Let it cool down for a bit or serve it hot.

Side Effects Of Cranberry Tea

Tablet strips and cranberries in a glass
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Cranberry tea is consumed for various health benefits, but cranberry juice is known to have certain side effects too:

      1. Cranberry contains a high concentration of oxalate. Oxalate is responsible for kidney stones (10). That is why cranberry juice must be consumed in moderate amounts.
      2. Excessive amounts of this juice can not only cause kidney stones but can also lead to weight gain. It can also cause stomach disturbances like diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress.
      3. People allergic to aspirin must not consume cranberry supplements either as it contains high amount ofsalicylic acidi  XA colorless chemical compound found in OTC medications that help in reducing inflammation, fever, and pain. .
      4. Breastfeeding and pregnant women must avoid drinking this juice as it is not considered safe for them.
Pregnant woman holding cranberry tea cup
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Cranberry tea is a rich source of vitamin C, E, and K, which are essential for the body. It is said to eliminate toxins, burn fat, and increase metabolism, leading to weight loss. Moreover, its detox effects offer benefits for the liver, lymph nodes, kidneys, and urinary tract. This tea is also highly effective against oral diseases like gingivitis and may be helpful in the treatment of breast and stomach cancers. Above all, it has cholesterol-lowering effects, thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. However, its excess intake may lead to the formation of kidney stones, weight gain, and stomach discomfort. So, moderation is key while consuming it.

Infographic: Cranberry Tea In Skin Care

Cranberry tea contains all the benefits of cranberries. Apart from their well-known medicinal properties, cranberries can also improve your skin health and appearance. They can soothe inflamed skin and protect from the harmful UV rays.

To learn more about the benefits of cranberry tea and how you can add it to your skin care regimen, check out the infographic below.

cranberry tea in skin care (infographic)

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Get the high-quality PDF version of this infographic.

Download Infographic in PDF version

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I drink cranberry tea before bed?

Anecdotal evidence claims that cranberry juice or tea might help you sleep better but there is no scientific evidence to back this. Please consult your doctor before using cranberry juice for sleep-related issues.

What happens if you drink cranberry tea every day?

Overconsumption of cranberry tea may lead to stomach discomfort or the formation of kidney stones due to its high oxalate content (10).

Is cranberry tea good for the skin?

Yes, cranberries are rich in vitamin C that can aid collagen formation adding elasticity to your skin (11).

Is cranberry tea good for a cold?

Cranberry tea is believed to help alleviate the signs of cold and flu.

How do you dry cranberries for tea?

You can dry cranberries in a dehydrator or in your oven.

Is cranberry and ginger tea good for you?

Yes, cranberry ginger tea acts as a natural detoxifying drink that helps cleanse your system and improve overall immunity.

Is cranberry tea anti-inflammatory?

Yes, cranberry tea is anti-inflammatory, thanks to the berry. The tea helps ease pain and inflammation (12).

Does cranberry tea have caffeine?

No, cranberry tea is caffeine-free.

Can I eat cranberries raw?

It is safe to consume cranberries raw. However, many do not consume them raw because of their bitter taste.

Key Takeaways

  • Cranberry tea may help improve heart health and enhance immunity.
  • It helps flush out the toxins from your body, which aids in weight loss.
  • Excess consumption of cranberry tea may cause diarrhea and kidney stones.
  • People allergic to aspirin and pregnant women should avoid consuming cranberry tea as it may not be safe for them.
  • The versatile sweet tea can be consumed hot and cold both and makes for a great beverage in all seasons.
cranberry tea_illustration

Image: Dall·E/StyleCraze Design Team

Experience the delightful combination of dried cranberry and cinnamon tea. Check out this video to learn about the optimal consumption methods for maximum results.

References

Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, research institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to learn more.

  1. American cranberries and health benefits – an evolving story of 25 years
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29315597/
  2. Cranberries and Their Bioactive Constituents in Human Health
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823508/
  3. Cranberries raw
    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171722/nutrients
  4. Exploring the role of cranberry polyphenols in periodontits: A brief review
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4033875/
  5. Hepatoprotective Effect of Cranberry Nutraceutical Extract in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Model in Rats: Impact on Insulin Resistance and Nrf-2 Expression
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7093716/
  6. The impact of cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and cranberry products on each component of the metabolic syndrome: a review
    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41110-017-0048-8
  7. Cranberries and Cancer: An Update of Preclinical Studies Evaluating the Cancer Inhibitory Potential of Cranberry and Cranberry Derived Constituents
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5039576/
  8. Chronic cranberry juice consumption restores cholesterol profiles and improves endothelial function in ovariectomized rats
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22836513/
  9. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15106157/
  10. Effect of cranberry juice consumption on urinary stone risk factors
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16006907/
  11. Effect of vitamin C and its derivatives on collagen synthesis and cross-linking by normal human fibroblasts
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18505499/
  12. Cranberry juice decreases disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis
    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30553231/
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