The Coolest Way to Use Hibiscus (It's Not Tea)

Ever wondered why hibiscus is such a big deal in hot countries? This flower has a cooling berry-like flavour that makes it perfect for hot summer weather. It's easy to turn into the most delicious and refreshing drinks, or even into a syrup or sorbet!
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Karkadieh (Hibiscus drink)
40g Hibiscus flowers or petals
1000ml water
150g sugar

1- Add hibiscus and water to a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 10 minutes.
2- Turn the heat off, then leave the hibiscus to infuse for 10 more minutes.
3- Pour through a strainer to filter out the flowers, then add the sugar while still warm and mix to dissolve.
4- Chill completely then serve. You can dilute this to taste with extra water

Hibiscus sorbet (makes two 400ml tubs)
50g hibiscus flowers
1000ml water
250g sugar
25ml lemon
5 mint leaves

1- Add hibiscus and water to a small pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 10 minutes.
2- Turn the heat off, then leave the hibiscus to infuse for 10 more minutes.
3- Strain the liquid, then add the sugar and lemon juice.
4- Add mint leaves to a container then pour in liquid and freeze.
5- Use a ninja creami on the sorbet setting to turn into a creamy sorbet.

Hibiscus jam
150g Hibiscus petals
300g sugar
1000ml water
5g pectin

1- Add hibiscus and water to a pot. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook for 10 minutes.
2- Once the petals have softened, strain the liquid into a jug keeping the petals aside.
3- Weigh out 150g of the softened petals and 600ml of the liquid into the pot. Add the sugar except for 50g.
4- Mix the pectin with the remaining sugar then add to the pot.
5- Heat the pot over medium high heat, stirring often until it comes to a gentle boil
6- Cook until it reaches 103 degrees Celsius. Pour into a sterilised jar and allow to cool

Hibiscus syrup
1/2 hibiscus drink prepared as per recipe above excluding the sugar
250g of Sugar (per 125g of hibiscus drink)
1/2 tsp citric acid (per 125g of hibiscus drink)

[georgehelliar]

In the Caribbean, we'll add cinnamon and clove to our sorrel/hibiscus. And rum, of course. Its very popular at Christmas

[drater]

You can substitute the sugar with any sweetener, but just add it when it's cold as it will become bitter from the high temperature. I have been making this for my dad with sweetener all Ramadan as he got diabetes. He passed away recently, this just reminded me of him. May he be granted highest place in Jannah..

[dicecard]

Don't boil it, cover the hibiscus with ice cold water and place it in the fridge overnight. Cold brewing brings out more of the subtle floral aromas and tanginess without the bitterness

[JosePerez-vzqq]

Asalaam alaiqum

In Jamaica (among other Caribbean places) the iced version of the tea is called sorrel and it is made with ginger and pimento.

In Santiago de Cuba one new year's we made a marmalade out of the flowers left over from making the sorrel drink.

🇨🇺🇯🇲🇬🇾🇹🇹🇪🇬🇵🇸🌺

[anafindlay]

Hello there from Chicago
I grew up in Mexico City and was raised drinking Jamaica which is what we call it in Mexico City.
I still drink Jamaica to this day during summer and winter.
💙🦋🌿

[isaiah]

In Trinidad & Tobago we call it sorrel and drink it in the lead up to Christmas until early January

[TrainerInTraining]

It's funny how people who live in Jamaica call it sorrel, and people who live in Mexico call it Jamaica!!

[brianw]

The flowers taste great chopped candied as well after your done with them.

[MelvisVelour]

There is nothing better than karkadiyeh on a blazing hot summer day. We also love it in Lebanon and in many versions I really like we add lemon zest because, why not...sahtain!

[vcxomhx]

In Saudi Arabia, we love hibiscus iced drinks and find them at almost every café we visit. This refreshing beverage is a staple in our culture during Ramadan. This recipe is just one of the many ways we enjoy this beloved drink.

Hibiscus Syrup
Ingredients:
• 2 orange with peels (without the white part between them)
• 1 lemon with peel (without the white part)
• 2 handful of mint (including stems)

Instructions:
1. Peel the oranges and lemon, and try to remove as much of the white pith as possible.
2. Measure the weight of the orange, lemon and the peels, and mint.
3. Add an equal weight of sugar.
4. Mix all ingredients together and place them in an airtight container.
5. Let it sit for a full day, then refrigerate for at least two days.

This syrup can last in refrigerator for years without spoiling.

Hibiscus Drink
Ingredients:
• 50 grams of hibiscus
• 3 tablespoons of tea (or 2 tea bags)
• 1 liter of cold water

Instructions:
1. Add the hibiscus and tea to the water.
2. Let it steep for 4-8 hours. (without boiling water to avoid any bitterness)

After that, strain and add the desired amount of syrup to taste (the more syrup, the less intense the hibiscus flavor). Enjoy!

[lacuillereathee]

I don't know if it's "legal" but I add ginger juice to my cold hibiscus brew and I love it!

[luciddreamarium]

This is the most effective advertisement for hibiscus ever 😂 I want to go buy some right now to try the drinks!

[Cwestlov]

In Jamaica we call this sorrel and sometimes flavor it with rum but usually without

[MustangAmy]

Thanks Obi! I like to add a knob of ginger, green cardamom pod, 1/2 a cinamon stick, a star anise and some barberries per liter batch. I use fruit like pineapple or blood orange to sweeten:)

[melodycherry]

Love, love Hisbiscus! First had it in Jamaica! Now use the whole leaves at home. Thank you for sharing❤

[lorenam]

We call that agua de Jamaica in Mexico, no idea why.
Delicious!

[hellie_el]

i make it in the sun, starting with fresh cold water and whole flowers and petals, and no sweetener. after several hours, put it in the fridge, with its flowers. just strain it into a glass to drink. so refreshing. 🌺

[Coccnuttt]

I made hibiscus-cherry ice cream the other day (boiling down hibiscus tea with sugar into a syrup), it's pretty good.

[decemberclouds]

I actually have some of this already, but I bought it from someone at a local market (specifically it's some Syrian refugees that sell it). It's great knowing that I can make it at home now too!

[erikagray]

I've had this, but it was called Sorrel and was while I was in Jamaica.