Roselle tea comes from the roselle plant, which is known by many different names. You may also hear it called Florida cranberry, hibiscus, Jamaican sorrel, jelly okra, red sorrel, or rosella.

Roselle is a member of the mallow family. It produces beautiful flowers with five petals that resemble hibiscus blooms.

Many parts of the plant are edible. The leaves can be added to salads, and the seeds can be roasted. However, the bright red, fleshy calyces are the most popular part of the plant. They’re used to make a delicious, naturally tart tea that’s packed with antioxidants and other beneficial plant compounds.

Growing Roselle

Roselle is an amazing plant, and if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 8–11, I highly recommend growing it. It does take several months to flower, so be patient.

I almost gave up on mine this year! Just before asking my husband to cut it down, I decided to give it one last look. To my surprise, it was covered with tiny pods waiting to burst open into beautiful flowers with creamy yellow petals and deep pink centers.

While you’re waiting for the blooms, don’t overlook the leaves. They add a delicious tangy flavor to fresh salads and are packed with vitamins and minerals.

If you plant roselle in the spring, you’ll usually begin seeing bright red calyces develop in the fall, often around October. The flowers bloom, fade, and then the fleshy calyces quickly become ready to harvest. Before you know it, you’ll have everything you need to make a refreshing batch of homemade roselle tea.

Preparing the Roselle for Tea

STEP 1:

Begin by cutting off the bottom portion of the calyx that includes the stem.

STEP 2:

Remove the fleshy red calyx from the seed
Add the calyx to a colander.

SPECIAL NOTE:

As for the seeds, you have several options. Carefully cut open the green seed pod and remove the seeds. You can save them to plant next season, roast them in the oven, or simply compost or discard them.

STEP 3:

Rinse well.

SPECIAL NOTE:

If you’re making a large batch of roselle tea, it’s often easier to fill your sink with cold water and rinse the calyces there instead of under running water. Add a little salt to the water to help remove any insects hiding inside.

STEP 4:

Pour 8 cups of water into a pot.

STEP 5:

Add 2 cups of the Roselle. I like to pull mine apart so I don’t lose a lot of space to air.

STEP 6:

Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 15 minutes.

STEP 7:

Strain tea through a fine sieve into a pitcher.

Step 8:

Pour in 1/4 cup of honey and the juice from half a lemon
Stir well and serve hot or over ice. It’s delicious either way!

And viola…you have Roselle tea.

NO Roselle In Your Garden!

Not a problem. You can purchase dried roselle here. But instead of using 2 cups of fresh Roselle petals, substitute with 1/2 cup of the dried Roselle.

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars. And tag us on IG at @SimplerThymesHomestead with a photo of you enjoying your delicious Roselle tea.

Find More “Recipes from Scratch” below:

Disclaimer:

Some of the links above are affiliate links which means that I receive a small commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I would use myself. See my full disclosure here.

Happy Homesteading!

Marian

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Roselle Tea

Roselle Tea comes from the Roselle plant but it carries many names. Here are just a few: Florida Cranberry, Hibiscus, Jamaican Sorrel, Jelly Okra, Red Sorrel, Rosella, and Roselle. It is a member of the Mallow family and it has 5 petals and looks like a hibiscus flower. Many parts of the Roselle are used in various ways such as the leaves added to salads and the seeds roasted. However, the most popular is the fleshy red calyxes that we’ll be using to make delicious tea filled with beneficial properties.

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Ingredients

2 c. fresh Roselle, seeded and rinsed
8 c. water
1/4 c. raw honey
juice of half a lemon

Instructions

Add 8 cups of water into a large pot.
Add 2 cups of the Roselle
Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, cover, and steep for 15 minuts.
Strain tea through a fine sieve into a pitcher.
Add 1/4 cup of raw and the juice of half a lemon.
Stir well and serve hot or over ice. It's delicious either way!

Recommended Products

Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links which means that I receive a small commission on qualified purchases at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I would use myself.