You’ve grown roselle hibiscus… but now you aren’t sure what to do with it.
Learn how to use roselle hibiscus and how to incorporate it into your diet with 5 tasty recipes that use roselle hibiscus.
Roselle hibiscus, red sorrel, Jamaican sorrel, and Florida cranberry are a few of the many names for “Hibiscus sabdariffa”, which is a tasty and stunning addition to the garden.
Best recipes for roselle hibiscus
Roselle is a prolific producer. One plant produces dozens and dozens of calyces over the course of the season.
These are my picks for the best recipes to help you use the roselle calyces that are growing in your garden.
1. Rosella Jam – This Australian favorite has quickly become our favorite way to use roselle.
2. Roselle Tea – We enjoy the roselle tea iced and sweetened with local honey. I brew it in this pitcher.
3. Thanksgiving Florida Cranberry Relish – Use roselle calyces for a local homegrown organic “cranberry” sauce.
4. Hibiscus Syrup – Use this versatile syrup as a beverage concentrate, pancake or ice cream topping, or as a flavor base in savory dishes.
5. Jamaican Sorrel Drink – Arguably the most well-known and popular way to use roselle hibiscus. This drink, often called “Rosa de Jamaica”, is a Christmas tradition in Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. In Mexico or in Mexican restaurants in the United States, the beverage is known simply as “Jamaica”.
The flavor of the roselle calyx is similar to cranberry, but less bitter with lemon undertones. To use the calyces, cut open the calyx, remove the white seed capsule, and rinse before using.
Add roselle hibiscus to your favorite recipes
- Use roselle in smoothies. Remove calyces from seed pod, and use fresh or frozen in smoothies. (Don’t forget that the leaves are also edible and an easy addition to smoothies.)
- Add roselle to your favorite sauces. Roselle adds a distinctive flavor and color; it is a tasty addition to sweet and savory sauces.
- Dehydrate or freeze hibiscus leaves to use later.
The blooms, leaves, and pods are also edible
The leaves taste like spicy spinach, and are frequently used in many cultures around the world.
Use the leaves in salads, as cooked greens, for tea, and in jam.
How to store roselle calyces until you’re ready to use them
When not stored properly, roselle calyces often become moldy. Here are two tips to lengthen the storage life of your harvested roselle:
- Remove the blossom from inside of the calyx. If left in place, the blossom often becomes moldy.
- Store calyces in the refrigerator in these containers for the longest storage life.
Want to learn more about growing roselle hibiscus? This article is a good place to begin.
Purchase seeds for roselle hibiscus here.
If you enjoyed this article, please share it:
Daniele
Thursday 3rd of November 2022
Do you have any tips on dehydrating the calyxes for someone who doesn’t have a dehydrator?
Angela Judd
Monday 7th of November 2022
You could look up how to dehydrate using your oven. It may work to use your oven on it's lowest setting.
RECIPE: Agua Fresca de Jamaica | plantook
Friday 14th of October 2022
[…] How to use Roselle Hibiscus: 5 Tasty Recipes […]
Molly Harris
Wednesday 8th of December 2021
Thanks for the recipes, Angela! With our (over)abundance of roselles this year, we have now made all 5 of these delicious recipes! Everyone loved the relish at Thanksgiving and the jam given as gifts. I’ve started making the jam recipe with 2/3 the volume of sugar and it comes out slightly more tart with more of the roselle flavor! It’s so good, I’m making jars for everyone for a Christmas!