Welcome Fall with Roselle Tea!
Not only roselle tea (or sorrel tea) is popular in Thailand, but also across Africa, Italy and Egypt. In Latin America and the US, it is popularly known as Agua de Flor de Jamaica. It is believed that the pharaohs of the Egypt were served this tea. In Australia and some other parts of the world, rosella jam and the colourful roselle liquor are very famous.
Roselle: a healthy, floral tea
Roselle is not the same as rose. It is actually obtained from the hibiscus plant. Research has proved that the chemical anthocyanin found in hibiscus (e.g., roselle) reduces cholesterol and hypertension. It acts as a natural diuretic and acts effectively against body’s fluid retention or oedema. High in calcium, niacin, riboflavin and iron, roselle tea is a good alternative against your regular cup of tea. It may also help in preventing bladder infections and kidney and liver problems. Roselle tea relieves constipation and research has now proved that if taken regularly after the meals, a hot cup of roselle tea is very effective to reduce weight.
If you spot a roselle plant in your place, you can experiment with it in numerous ways:
- The fresh leaves and young stems are used directly in salads.
- Make your own cup of Jamaican-style roselle tea (popular as a traditional Christmas drink), which is made by putting roselle calyces into an earthenware pot with grated ginger, boiling water and sugar, and letting the mixture stand overnight. The resultant liquid is strained and served with a dash of rum, along with a few ice cubes!
- Thickened roselle sauce is found to substitute cranberry sauce effectively. This sauce is made by just boiling the tea longer, so that it acquires a syrupy consistency. This may be added to various desserts and salad dressings for the unique taste and a dash of colour, apart from being used as a sauce for pouring over pancakes, waffles and ice creams.
- Add a little of this tea to your drink for a beautiful colour and a different flavour!
In winters, people prefer a hot cup of roselle tea, but the cold version works its magic with equal effect in summers as well! Dried roselle calyces are generally obtained by letting the fruit dry naturally on the plant and then gently taking out just the calyces, discarding the inner fruit. The taste of the tea is a bit sour, which can be adjusted with a careful addition of sugar for that perfectly balanced sweet-n-sour taste. So when I spotted a jar of dry roselle in one of the supermarkets here, I could not stop myself to try out a healthy brew of roselle tea.
The tea is easy to make. Perhaps, this is the easiest recipe on my blog so far!
Thai roselle tea
Makes 4 cups
Ingredients:
- Dried roselle calyces: 10–12
- Drinking water: 4.5 cups
- Sugar: 5 tsp
- Freshly crushed lemongrass (optional): 2 stems
- Crushed ginger (optional): ½ tsp
Method:
Add all the ingredients in a pot and boil for 10 min. Strain and serve hot.
On another note, thanks to Quatro for awarding Cosmopolitan Currymania with Cherry on Top Award. Quatro’s blog, Quatro Frommagio and other Disgraces on the Menu, is very interesting and will definitely tickle your tastebuds. I am really honoured, Quatro!
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October 4, 2011 @ 5:18 pm
i’ve never heard of roselle before. so interesting! thanks for sharing!
October 4, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
healthy delicious drink
October 4, 2011 @ 7:19 pm
What a pretty tea! I have never heard of Rosella before, but it sounds delicious!
October 4, 2011 @ 11:14 pm
Very interesting info Purabi. I love tea dn drink a ton of it and am always looking for new ones. Thanks for sharing!
October 5, 2011 @ 12:09 am
I remember when I went to school in Australia, my friends liked to suck the nectar from the hibiscus. It’s interesting to know how useful of the plant for our health.
October 5, 2011 @ 3:09 am
Not something I’m super familiar with, but would love to try!
October 5, 2011 @ 4:45 am
I’m not familiar with it – but it’s absolutely stunning! Such a beautiful color and so clear! Your photos – as always – are amazing!
October 5, 2011 @ 6:52 pm
I never heard of roselle tea, so interesting from your description, I love fruity tea, therefore would love to give this a try. One more thing, sorry about the mix up in your last post…
Hope you are having a great week Purabi and thanks for sharing such a fascinating post 🙂
October 5, 2011 @ 7:54 pm
As a Brit I’m obliged to love tea! I’ve never heard of Roselle though. I bet the lemongrass adds a wonderful flavour!
October 5, 2011 @ 10:40 pm
Ahem, did you just say “lose weight”? I’m going to hunt this down… lol. Looks pretty and if it does lose weight…why not. =) The Chinese character helps for me to remember thanks to the photo.
October 5, 2011 @ 11:04 pm
I’ve had hibiscus tea, but never roselle tea. You’ve definitely caught my interest! I’m hoping I can find it at the herb store and make this. I love the health benefits in addition to it being such a beautiful tea!
October 6, 2011 @ 3:06 am
Unique and innovative recipe. Absolutely new for me. Roselle tea looks superb, colourful, flavourful and tempting.
October 6, 2011 @ 3:10 am
Purabi…this tea sounds like it would really work wonders for me. I wonder if I could find it in a tea shop or perhaps order it online! And congrats on your recent award!
October 6, 2011 @ 3:59 am
Mmm, that tea sounds amazing. :), Miriam@Meatless Meals Foe Meat Eaters
October 6, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Well, with the word ‘Jamaica’ in the title maybe I’ve finally found a holiday drink that won’t taste ‘weird’ in a warm climate 🙂 Looks great! Buzzed
October 6, 2011 @ 2:02 pm
Yummy and colorful tea. First time here .. following you.
Vardhini
Event: Halloween Fiesta
October 6, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Subho Bijoya Purabi, roselle tea is absolutely new to me, but I am game for it as I am a tea person.
October 7, 2011 @ 12:02 am
I love tea. This one looks so delicious. Thanks for the wonderful post. Come over and visit. We have a terrific waffle recipe today.
October 7, 2011 @ 11:18 am
Thanks for introducing me to this lovely tea! And congrats on your award!
October 7, 2011 @ 1:00 pm
What great information. I’ve never seen this tea before but I’ll look for it next time I’m at Whole Foods. It looks very similar to Cranberry Juice and from what you’ve described, acts like it.
Very interesting post. Thank you for sharing it.
October 9, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
oh wow, that tea looks great!
October 18, 2011 @ 2:31 am
I never heard of roselle tea, but it does sound good.
October 21, 2011 @ 4:44 pm
The tea’s color in incredible – for some reason, now I’m craving not just tea, but my mother’s Christmas punch! Thanks for sharing…
October 21, 2011 @ 5:53 pm
Have not heard of roselle tea, but it looks so lovely and perfect tea for the holidays!
Congratulations, on your award:DDD