Hibiscus flowers serve as the base of teas around the world and of a popular punch in Mexico. In the Caribbean they are used to make a beverage called sorrel, which is especially popular in the Yuletide season. It is consumed both with and without the addition of rum.
Nutritionally, hibiscus flowers are high in Vitamin C, various minerals, and antioxidants, though their nutrient profile is not available in the USDA nutrient database. They are also used to make jam and as a food coloring.
Hibiscus flowers are a natural diuretic. A 2008 USDA study showed consuming hibiscus tea to reduce blood pressure in people with mild high blood pressure and those who were pre-hypertensive. In the traditional Indian medicine of India, Ayurveda, hibiscus flowers have been used as a treatment for cough. They are also known as a mild laxative. There is also some evidence that hibiscus flowers promote weight loss.
Where to Buy Hibiscus Flowers
We save money by buying herbs in bulk. We know a great vendor that sells certified organic hibiscus flowers in bulk at very low prices (click here). You can buy it in 4 oz., 8 oz., and 1 lb. quantities. If you purchase more than five pounds, you will get even larger discounts.
You will be amazed by the savings when you buy certified organic hibiscus flowers in bulk. (click here, note the 60-day return guarantee and purchase options via the Internet, phone, mail, or fax.)
Hibiscus Flowers Price Comparison
Many other vendors sell certified organic hibiscus flowers, but at significantly higher prices. For instance, Amazon.com sells a 1 lb. package of certified organic hibiscus flowers for $20 compared to about $8 through the link above. (Click here to see this alternative product at Amazon.com.)
Hibiscus Flowers: Ways To Enjoy the Tea
If you have decided to add hibiscus flower tea to your menus for the medical perks the tea can offer, congratulations! Hibiscus flower tea has been used over the centuries to treat almost everything imaginable. Of late, hibiscus flower is getting attention for lowering blood pressure, particularly in Type2 diabetes patients.
The amounts of hibiscus flower tea used in experiments ran about three cups a day. Now the challenge is to find ways to have that much hibiscus flower tea without getting burned out on it.
Hibiscus flower alone makes a flavorful tea: tart, and resembling cranberry. The color is a stunning dark red. Considering this as a starting base, try these possibilities for enjoying your hibiscus flower tea.
Cold Hibiscus Flower Tea
Have it really cold as they do in Mexico where it is known as “jamaica.” To keep from watering down the potency of your tea, freeze some of it into cubes. Keep a bag of hibiscus flower ice cubes in the freezer, always handy for a chilled drink.
Another take on this ice tea drink is to add sugar and a little rum as hibiscus flower tea is served in Jamaica. Such a tea would make a good afternoon cooler or a light dessert to end a meal.
A spicier version of hibiscus flower tea is made by simmering the hibiscus flowers with some fresh ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Simmer in a glass container or an enameled for about thirty minutes. Using aluminum or stainless steel for the job could discolor the pot and taint your tea. Make plenty. This mulled hibiscus flower tea will keep in the refrigerator for a good week. Serve it with a sweetener of your choice and you may want to spike it with a bit of rum.
Warm Hibiscus Flower Tea
A simple tea of hibiscus flowers can be brewed in a teapot by pouring boiling water over the blossoms. As the flavor is quite tart, most people sweeten this tea with sugar or honey. No need for lemon. It is like hibiscus flower has built-in lemon.
A more complex hibiscus flower tea can be assembled with various other herbs from the tea closet. Try adding orange blossoms and chamomile to the hibiscus flowers. You will still have a dark red tea, but with a much more flowery undertone.
Try the mulled hibiscus flower tea from the list above in hot form. Adding a bit of rum turns this tea into a hot toddy, perfect for the end of a snowy day. Take this with you in a thermos to enjoy when sledding or skiing (light on the rum for this).
Finding Hibiscus Flowers
Hibiscus flowers grow in all but the coldest parts of the world and are part of cuisines world-wide. Therefore, hibiscus flowers are easy to find. In the United States they are often found in ethnic groceries under the name “jamaica.” If you are mostly interested in the medicinal qualities of hibiscus flowers, forgo the ethnic grocery and order online from a reputable supplier of organic herbs.
The information on this website is for educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.