16 Comments

This is fascinating - I love hibiscus but I have no idea how to use it! Thanks for the tips!

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Thank you! So glad you enjoyed this. Huge fan of hibiscus here as well - as you can probably tell!

Also, love your tagline - a fellow experienced eater :-)

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I love hibiscus so much! I loved reading and learning more from this!

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Thank you Jordan, me too, me too! So happy to hear you found this useful!

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In Trinidad, we have something called Sorrel which is hibiscus-adjacent; not the same as the stuff by the same name in the UK. Anyway, we have it as a traditional Christmas drink with cinnamon sticks, clove and sugar. Just another idea!

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Interesting! So my “mulled hibiscus” (to find an alcohol free alternative to mulled wine when I was pregnant with my son) wasn’t so original after all 😂

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Don’t be hard on yourself ;), it’s still a pretty original take!

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Haha, thank you! 🙏

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I grow rosellas (as we call them in Australia) every year. I had so much jam left this year from the previous year that I had to think of other things. Not as many as you’ve said though! When you make jam you boil the seeds first and then use that liquid to cook the jam - this is where the pectin is. I made a really tasty chilli ginger sauce this year. Fermented in honey they are really good as a cordial. Tea is one of main reasons for growing them.

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Curious to hear if you found any other delicious uses for hibiscus! I think the most fun (and tasty) discovery for me were the hibiscus quesadillas and the mulled hibiscus!

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I'm hoping, this summer to plant some hibiscus (rosellas in Australia) in the hot house. They're not really suited to our climate if Tasmania but I'm going to give it a go. When we lived in Brisbane, they grew wonderfully well and rosella jam is always highly sought after. It's usually only found at fête stalls and markets as it's a bit of a faff to make but so worth it.

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Good look with planting hibiscus! How wonderful it would be to be able to get hibiscus from your own garden! And you are right about the hibiscus jam - I think here I have also mainly see it at craft markets and similar events.

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Love hibiscus! Now I just need to figure out where I can get some in Italy. The agua fresca sounds so perfect for today in the smoldering heat of summer

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I would try an erboristeria? And yes, hibiscus agua fresca is so refreshing on the summer - I often keep a pitcher of it in the fridge during the summer months.

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Yes! Great idea! Also I’m thinking we have a couple bulk tea shops in the center which might have plain hibiscus in tea form!

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Yes, that might work as well

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