Hibiscus
BotanicalHibiscus sabdariffaAlso calledRoselle, Sorrel, Flor de Jamaica, Karkade
Tart, ruby-red roselle calyces that brew into a cooling, thirst-quenching tea for hot days and warm pitta moods.
The hibiscus in our tea tin is roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa. What you are steeping is not really the petal but the fleshy red calyx that cups the seed pod. Pour hot water over it and within a minute the cup turns deep ruby. The taste is bright and sour, like cranberry with a floral edge.
Roselle is a beloved cooling drink around the world, from agua de Jamaica in Mexico to karkade in Egypt and sorrel in the Caribbean. It is not a classical Ayurvedic herb, though. The hibiscus of the old Sanskrit texts is japa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, the big red garden flower used for hair oils and devotional offerings.
Through an Ayurvedic lens, roselle reads as cooling and refreshing. It is a natural fit for pitta in high summer, when you want something tart and cold instead of another coffee.
Ayurvedic Properties
Not described in classical Ayurveda; modern Ayurvedic writers describe it as sour, astringent and cooling (modern Western Ayurvedic sources). Classical Ayurveda's japa is a different hibiscus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.
- RasaTastes
- ViryaHeating or cooling
- Cooling
- VipakaPost-digestive effect
- Sweet
- AgniEffect on digestion
- Neutral for agni
Little direct effect on digestion; its sour taste is mostly cooling.
- GunaQualities
- TridoshaEffect on Vata, Pitta and Kapha
- Vata: increases in excess
- Pitta: decreases
- Kapha: decreases
- ↓decreases (calms that dosha)
- ↑increases (can aggravate it)
- =neutral or balancing
- ?not known
- V Vata · P Pitta · K Kapha
Cooling and light, hibiscus tea suits pitta and kapha, especially in summer. Vata types may find a lot of it too cold and drying, so they do better with it warm and in smaller cups.
Traditional Uses
- Traditionally used to support a cool, refreshed feeling in hot weather.
- Traditionally used to support healthy thirst and hydration in summer.
- Traditionally used to support a calm heart and settled mood when pitta runs hot.
- Traditionally used to support a cooling summer routine alongside other pitta-soothing foods.
How People Use It
- TeaSteep 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried hibiscus in a cup of just-boiled water for 5 minutes. It is quite tart, so a little honey or a few mint leaves help.
- WaterFor a cold infusion, soak the dried flowers in cool water in the fridge for a few hours or overnight, then strain.
- FoodStrong hibiscus tea can be used to color and flavor fruit salads, ice pops or a simple syrup for summer drinks.
Hibiscus Mint Summer Cooler
A ruby-red pitcher for hot afternoons.
- 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus (about 1 to 2 teaspoons per cup)
- 4 cups water
- 1 small handful fresh mint leaves
- 1 small piece cinnamon stick (optional)
- Honey, maple syrup or raw sugar to taste
- Lime slices to serve
- Bring 2 cups of the water to a boil, turn off the heat, and add the hibiscus, mint and cinnamon. Steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain into a pitcher and stir in your sweetener while it is still warm.
- Add the remaining 2 cups of cool water and chill.
- Serve cool, not icy, with a slice of lime. Ayurveda prefers drinks that do not shock the digestive fire.
Pairs Well With
Cautions
- Hibiscus tea may lower blood pressure. If you take blood pressure medicine or diuretics, talk with your doctor, since it may add to their effects or change how some drugs are handled by the body.
- Avoid hibiscus in more than occasional food amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Its safety in pregnancy is not well established, and it has traditionally been used to bring on menstruation.
- Hibiscus may also affect blood sugar, so check with your doctor if you take diabetes medicine.
- It is quite acidic, so rinse your mouth with water after drinking it often, and skip it if sour foods upset your stomach.
- Safety research is limited for regular, concentrated use. Please consult a qualified practitioner or your doctor if you have a health condition or take any medication.
In Our Shop
Organic Hibiscus Flower, from $4.75. Weighed and packed by hand at our Rockville Centre studio.
Shop Hibiscus →From the Journal
Sources and Further Reading
This page shares how herbs are traditionally used in Ayurveda and other herbal traditions. It is for general education only and is not medical advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, and herbs are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Please talk with your doctor or a qualified practitioner before using herbs, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication or managing a health condition.