Have you ever felt that huge pang of guilt after not eating every last bit of guacamole in your Chipotle burrito bowl? Same. Avocados are a precious (and pricy) fruit, after all, so wasting a single bite of one feels like an unwritten cardinal sin that should *never* be committed.
Experts in This Article
founder and director of Real Nutrition
Clearly, we’ve joined the #NoWastingAvocado team forever and have accepted our destiny to preserve this vibrant green fruit at all costs. This means we eat the avocado even if it has browned (don’t worry, it’s usually totally a-okay, or you can learn the many ways for how to keep avocado fresh), and we’ve found a million and one ways to use it in just about any recipe, from avocado bread to avocado fries.
That being said, we think it might be time to take things a step further with this no-waste avocado hack that we wish we had known sooner. It turns out that the humble avocado seed serves as a super potent source of antioxidants and can easily be used to make an anti-inflammatory avocado seed tea (!) in mere minutes. Spoiler alert: Avocado seeds contain nearly 70 percent of the fruit’s antioxidant power. Now that’s what we call spilling the tea.
Health benefits of avocado seeds
Now that we’ve agreed that there’s no excuse for wasting an avocado—seed included—it’s time to get more acquainted with why they’re so good for you and the impressive list of avocado seed tea benefits. “Although more research needs to be conducted, avocado seeds are rich in fatty acids1, fiber, carbs, and a small amount of protein,” says Amy Shapiro MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian, founder, and director of Real Nutrition. In terms of gut health, avocado seeds are high in fiber; therefore, they can help with overall digestion and bowel regularity, adds Shapiro. Louder for the folks in the back, am I right?
So, what is avocado seed tea good for, and is it good to drink avocado seed water? Research2 also shows that avocado seeds contain about 70 percent of the fruit’s antioxidant properties. The more you know, right? So, now that we’re fully aware of the fact that we can no longer miss out on this powerful nutrient, we’re ready to make up for lost time (and benefits).
But with all this talk about antioxidants, it’s important to note how we can actually reap its benefits. “Avocado seeds contain phytonutrients and antioxidants3, including vitamin C, which helps boost immunity and promote skin health. Some countries use avocado seed to lower blood pressure, [and] when made into flour, it may be helpful in lowering LDL cholesterol due to the high fiber content,” Shapiro says. “Aside from their heart health benefits, avocado seeds are also shown to be antibacterial and antifungal, which can help prevent certain illnesses and infections.”
That said, those with an avocado intolerance or those with allergies to avocados should avoid consuming the fruit or tea made from it. Indeed, for some, avocados can lead to a bevy of gastro-related discomforts, such as nausea, abdominal cramping, and vomiting. Or in more severe cases, it can lead to flushing, hives, or swelling of the lips and throat. But if you have any doubts, it’s best to consult with a medical professional to learn what’s best for you. Additionally, it’s important to discuss with your doctor if consuming avocado seed tea (or other avocado seed-derived products) may interact with any medications you may be taking.
How to repurpose avocado seeds to get the most benefits
One way to reap the benefits of avocado seeds is to turn them into a flour-like powder to add to beverages like teas and smoothies. “Avocado seeds are very hard and need to be prepared before they can be consumed. Usually, they need to get dried out in an oven and then pulverized or chopped up. They can also be grated, dried, used as a powder, and/or added to smoothies or beverages,” Shapiro says. However, she notes that when drying out the seed to make flour, you might lose some of the antioxidant properties as they oxidize and lose potency. “Anything that contains delicate vitamins, minerals, or antioxidants will lose its potency over time—avocado seeds included.” Thus, it’s important to consume avocado seeds as soon as you can and storing avocados correctly to prevent nutrient loss.
How to make avocado tea
Our favorite way to repurpose avocado seeds is by brewing them to make an easy antioxidant tea. So, how do you prepare avocado seeds for drinking? It’s simple: All you need is water, an avocado seed, and a pinch of patience. To do so, boil the seed for five minutes or until soft, remove it, and slice it into smaller pieces. Then, return to the pot to boil for another 10 minutes, and strain out the seed particles when finished. At this point, though the drink is ready to consume, note that it might have a bitter aftertaste. To mitigate any harsh flavor, you can add raw honey or cinnamon for sweetness and added spice, not to mention a boost of anti-inflammatory benefits.
Cinnamon isn’t your jam? Or do you want to add even more delicious flavor for a more lavish avocado seed recipe? We’ve got you covered. Up the ante by adding additional anti-inflammatory spices to the mix, such as ginger, which can help alleviate constipation, indigestion, and nausea; cloves which are packed with polyphenols; cardamom (a main ingredient in chai tea) that research shows may have anti-cancer properties; or nutmeg which has beneficial antimicrobial agents, to name a few.
In a recent TikTok video, @pr.iscilla demonstrates how to make an easy two-ingredient avocado seed tea, which is one of the easiest ways to use up the avocado that’s been sitting on the counter for far too long. And, yes, it really is that easy to turn avocados into tea. In the video, you’ll note that once the seed has had a chance to steep in the water for a few minutes, it begins to turn the mixture a slightly pink hue, which is a good sign and nothing to be alarmed about. Once the tea is fully infused, it can be consumed straight away or doctored with the flavor ingredients of your choice. In this case, she notes that a little honey is the perfect way to sweeten up this homemade caffeine-free tea.
But why stop there? In another TikTok video by @turmericteas, we learn that avocado seed tea pairs perfectly with other anti-inflammatory teas like lemongrass turmeric calming organic herbal tea. Talk about a one-two punch.
Avocado seed tea recipe
Yields 2 servings
Ingredients2 cups water1 avocado seedHoney to taste, optionalCinnamon to taste, optional
1. In a medium pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the avocado seed and continue boiling for five minutes.
2. Remove the seed and carefully slice it into smaller pieces. Continue boiling for another 10 minutes.
3. Strain out the seed particles, and serve. Add honey, cinnamon, or other spices and herbs to taste.
Even more excuses why paying extra for avocado is *totally* worth it:
Bangar, Sneh Punia et al. “Avocado seed discoveries: Chemical composition, biological properties, and industrial food applications.” Food chemistry: X vol. 16 100507. 11 Nov. 2022, doi:10.1016/j.fochx.2022.100507
↩︎Segovia, Francisco J et al. “Avocado Seed: A Comparative Study of Antioxidant Content and Capacity in Protecting Oil Models from Oxidation.” Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 23,10 2421. 21 Sep. 2018, doi:10.3390/molecules23102421
↩︎Dabas, Deepti et al. “Avocado (Persea americana) seed as a source of bioactive phytochemicals.” Current pharmaceutical design vol. 19,34 (2013): 6133-40. doi:10.2174/1381612811319340007
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