People who have not embraced hibiscus tea may want to give the drink a second look, especially with another study showing its ability to reduce high blood pressure.

The American Heart Association has released research stating that drinking three cups of hibiscus tea can lower the blood pressure in pre- and mildly hypertensive adults.

Dr Diane L McKay, from the Antioxidant Research Laboratory, said the tea may also prove effect for people at risk of developing hypertension.

The study examined men and women between the ages of 30 and 70 who suffered from high blood pressure. For six weeks, half received a hibiscus-infused drink, while a control group was given a placebo.

Blood pressure of the participants was measured weekly and showed that it was lower in the group drinking hibiscus. The greatest reduction of blood pressure reported a 13.2 percent drop. Age, gender or the use of dietary supplements made no difference in the results, according to the researchers.

In Egyptian times, hibiscus sabdariffa was used to make a nourishing drink and has been said to be the preferred drink of the pharaohs.

This may suggest people who want to live as a pharaoh should drink like one.