February 21, 2024

Hibiscus drink

This glorious Hibiscus drink – known in Egypt as Karkadé and pronounced kark-a-day is an amazing fruit cordial. It’s made from dried Hibiscus sepals ( part of the flower). Not only does it taste great but it looks truly beautiful too.

Hibiscus drink is naturally tart

Hibiscus drink has a tart flavour, not dissimilar to cranberries. As such it’s really refreshing. Sugar is generally added but it’s up to you how much you choose to add. In Egypt it’s usually drunk very sweet. I find it more refreshing when only a little sweetness is added.

Among other benefits, Hibiscus drink is reported to help in lowering blood pressure. And as having even higher levels of antioxidants than green tea.

First I’ll tell you the traditional way of making this wonderful Hibiscus Drink, then I’ll tell you the quick and easy way.

Dried Hibiscus can be bought in Middle Eastern stores in the UK. They can also be sourced online. Alternatively Hibiscus Tea can be bought in teabags. Again you can probably get these in Middle Eastern stores, the only place I’ve been able to find them online is Amazon.

Ingredients

2 -3cups dried hibiscus flowers
2 litres boiling water
1 -2cup sugar (depending on how sweet you like your drinks)
lots of ice
optional extras – fresh mint leaves or star anise

Method

Rinse the dried hibiscus flowers under cold water.
Put the dried hibiscus and the sugar into a large pan and pour enough boiling water over them to cover them.
Let the flowers steep for ten minutes.
Give the mixture a good stir to make sure the sugar has dissolved.
Allow to cool to room temperature.
Fill a jug to ¼ full with ice then pour the beautiful deep red water from the hibiscus flowers into a jug – use a strainer lined with a muslin cloth to ensure no sediment from the flowers is transferred to the jug.
Store in the fridge to chill until you are ready to serve.
Serve with plenty of ice

An attractive garnish

* Fresh mint leaves are an attractive garnish with the bright green contrasting with the deep crimson of the juice – make sure you don’t add these until the juice is cold otherwise the leaves may discolour.

Optional extras for your hibiscus drink

A few Star Anise can be added to the boiling water at the same time as the dried hibiscus leaves adding a slightly warm, liquorice, aniseed undertone to the drink. These can also be added back to the cordial after it has been strained and used as a garnish.

Now for the quick and easy way

Put two hibiscus tea bags into a mug and pour over boiling water. Allow the teabags to infuse for 5 minutes then remove the teabags. Add Sugar now if you choose and mix well.

Allow the infusion to cool to room temperature.

Take a large jug and half fill it with ice.

Pour the infusion over the ice to fill the jug to 2/3 full.

Top up the jug with sparkling mineral water or lemonade.

Garnish your beautiful ruby crystal Hibiscus drink with mint leaves if you choose and serve in long tall glasses over ice.