Last Sunday I came across a new find at my local farmers market: these pint-sized baskets filled with crimson crowns of hibiscus hips. I had never seen anything like them before, so I asked the farmer how best to use them.
He recommended brewing an herbal tisane (tea). Naturally rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, hibiscus hips have a tart flavor and impart a beautiful pinkish-red hue when steeped in hot water. If consumed regularly, this caffeine-free tea can lend support to the immune system as well as improve cardio-vascular health by lowering high blood pressure.
Hibiscus Tisane is delicious blended with a little honey and served hot or chilled over ice.
Drinking a daily glass of this easy-to-make herbal tea may be just the thing to keep your body fortified for the cold and flu season ahead.
Hibiscus Tisane (makes one gallon)
*recipe courtesy of Front Porch Farm in Healdsburg, California
Ingredients:
- 1 pint fresh hibiscus hips
- 1 gallon spring water
- 1/4 cup honey (or to taste) *I used raspberry honey
Directions:
- Lightly rinse hibiscus hips and place in 1 gallon of spring water in a stock pot. Heat on the stove until boiling. Boil 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in honey. Let cool for several hours or overnight.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the hibiscus hips and discard. Pour the tisane into a gallon container and chill. *May be poured in a cup and re-heated, or served over ice.
FARMINISTA'S FEAST 
Super chill recipe and what an unusual looking fruit!
They are beautiful Debbie!
I wonder if you could boil it down and pour it on pancakes, ice cream topping. Sounds delicious.
I’m not sure this would work Penny, but do try making the tisane. The natural sourness of the hibiscus hips definitely needs a little natural sweetener for my taste.
How neat to make this yourself. I usually just buy Hibiscus tea from the. Republic of Teas. I be it tastes quite good homemade. I have never seen raspberry honey here, though.
Don’t let the raspberry honey suggestion throw you off this recipe Jovina. It would be just as lovely made with a regular wildflower honey. And this homemade version using fresh hibiscus hips is more flavorful than a tea made from dried herbs. If you can find them, be sure to give this a try!