Originally posted September 20, 2011

jamaica tea (hibiscus tea or sorrel)

jamaica tea (hibiscus tea or sorrel) by joanie

I love jamaica. Nothing like a delicious al pastor taco and a tall jamaica in one of Tacos el Grullense's classic styrofoam cups!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/joanie/3576878022/

Turns out if you're into natural medicines, you're into hibiscus. This stuff is supposedly great if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer. It's also a diuretic and laxative. This page on WebMD makes hibiscus sound awesome:

"Hibiscus is used for treating loss of appetite, colds, heart and nerve diseases, upper respiratory tract pain and swelling (inflammation), fluid retention, stomach irritation, and disorders of circulation; for dissolving phlegm; as a gentle laxative; and as a diuretic to increase urine output...The fruit acids in hibiscus may work like a laxative. Some researchers think that other chemicals in hibiscus might be able to lower blood pressure; decrease spasms in the stomach, intestines, and uterus; and work like antibiotics to kill bacteria and worms."
http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-211-HIBISCUS.aspx?activeIngredientId=211&activeIngredientName=HIBISCUS

Worms? TMI.

Hibiscus sounds perfect, right? Well, maybe not perfect. Click on the Side Effects tab on the above link, and it sounds a little less awesome: "Hibiscus is UNSAFE to take during pregnancy." But if you're not pregnant, then it's still awesome!

Yet the Livestrong website warns, "Some people have experienced an hallucinogenic effect from drinking hibiscus tea or a sensation of feeling intoxicated." Does that make it awesome or not awesome?
http://www.livestrong.com/article/70513-side-effects-hibiscus-tea/#ixzz1YQrhAkBg

Hibiscus is known as sorrel in places like Jamaica and Trinidad. At least that's what I read. This is not to be confused for sorrel, the green leafy vegetable. Anyway, apparently the plant flowers just before Christmas, making this a holiday beverage. Think of it like cider. And like all good holiday beverages, sometimes you need to add...a little something. In this case, rum. A lot of rum.

Quick fact: hibiscus tea is not made from the petals of the flower. Rather, it's made from the sepal, which is the part of the flower right behind the petals.

Ingredients

  • 8 cups water
  • 2 cups hibiscus (about 2 oz)*
  • 2 tbsp grated ginger
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 1/8 tsp Jamaican all spice
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • * This stuff stains! Once you add water, be careful!
5 cups

Directions

Heat 8 cups of water in a large 5 quart pot on medium-high heat. As it warms, wash and drain hibiscus. Add to pot. Add ginger. Once it reaches a boil, reduce heat to medium and let simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat, add cinnamon and all spice and stir. Cover and let sit for 2 hours.

Strain. Add sugar and stir well. Chill before serving over ice. Add a little rum if you want to party like it's your birthday.

3 hours

Comments

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  • commented over 12 years ago

    Amazon!

  • commented over 12 years ago

    Where did you get the hibiscus tea?

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