The striking colours and flavour of hibiscus are only the beginning of what this herb can do. Rich in antioxidants, hibiscus helps the body fight free radicals, ultimately resulting in better health. It contains several vitamins—like C and B—that boost the immune system; and others like iron, calcium, and magnesium that keep the body functioning well.
In addition to all of the great nutrients, studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea is possibly effective for treating high blood pressure.
In addition to its potential to lower your blood sugar, lower swelling, and act as an antibiotic Some Ayurvedic medicine treatments and study also claim that hibiscus has the ability to strengthen your hair and even help hair regrowth.
When fresh hibiscus flowers are mashed, they have a slimy, slick consistency that can be a chemical-free way to condition your hair—another bonus benefit to make hair stronger and grow faster.
Hibiscus has many uses beyond being brewed into tea, used as an ingredient in beer or mixed into cocktails. The hibiscus plant has a tangy taste and lots of tannins (similar to red wine), which makes it ideal for marinating meat or baking into bread and pastries.
A notable way to use hibiscus is as a meat substitute. When the dried flower is rehydrated and sautéed, it becomes chewy and takes on a meat-like texture. In the past, this was most commonly used in Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes. You could also find chefs around the world, following the somewhat lost tradition of cooking with flowers, starting to use hibiscus in tacos and quesadillas instead of pork or beef, creating a wave of vegetarian and vegan recipes popping up all over the internet. This sounds like a trend worth exploring!
The type of dried hibiscus we offer is also used to make a variety of skincare products and cosmetics for both colour and vitamins. The dried, powdered flowers are used in shampoos and conditioners, body washes, lip balms, facial scrubs, body polishes, lotions, soap, bath bombs, and more.
HIBISCUS PAIRS WELL WITH a variety of herbs and spices like Orange, Pineapple, peppermint and lemongrass. There is a lot of room for experimentation—create a new flavour combination. Would you like to try it? We are excited to share some of our recipes with you below, but first, you need the main ingredient, freshly dried Hibiscus leaf. Get it here.
Hibiscus Formulas and Recipes
Remember you do not have to make your hibiscus drink as red and concentrated as zobo drink to get the best of its nutrients
Simple Hibiscus Flower Tea
For 2 servings:
2 pieces dried leaf hibiscus flower
500ml /2 cups water
Add hot water over the hibiscus flower and let steep for 10–15 minutes, or longer for a bolder taste. Strain and enjoy. Hibiscus can be quite tart, especially if brewed hot. You may want to add other herbs like cinnamon or honey to lessen the bite. You can also add a squeeze of fresh orange or a splash of fruit juice if you don’t want to use honey.
Cold-brew method:
If you would like to try hibiscus cold-brew, add cold water instead of hot, cover, and leave in your fridge overnight. Pour over ice for a refreshing antioxidant-filled drink the next day.
Simple Hibiscus Flower Tea 2
For 2 servings:
2 pieces dried leaf hibiscus flower
1ball fresh Beetroot or ½ tbsp. dried beetroot
500ml /2 cups water
Add water over the hibiscus flower and beetroot boil for 10-15 minutes, or longer for a bolder taste. Strain and enjoy. Hibiscus can be quite tart, especially if brewed hot. You may want to add other herbs like cinnamon or honey.
Hibiscus and Mint Shampoo
1 cup filtered warm water
2 teaspoons dried hibiscus
1 teaspoon dried mint
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
2 tablespoons almond oil or other carrier oil
25 drops of preferred essential oil for fragrance
Combine the warm water, dried hibiscus flower, and mint in a small bowl and allow to steep, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Strain and discard herbs, reserving the infused liquid. Pour the infusion into a clean bottle (a recycled shampoo bottle works great). Add the castile soap, almond oil, and essential oil. Cap the bottle and turn it over a few times to mix.
There you go! Would be great to get your feedback if you use our recipe and make your hibiscus drink with our fresh Hibiscus Leaves. Enjoy!