What Are Flor de Jamaica {Hibiscus Flowers}? Plus 10 Hibiscus Recipes

You may have tried Agua de Jamaica at your favorite Mexican restaurant but there’s so much more you can make with dried hibiscus flowers. Check out these 10 Flor de Jamaica, or dried hibiscus flower recipes! Plus tips to introduce you to the tart dried jamaica flower which is a popular ingredient in Mexican recipes.

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Have you tried any jamaica flower recipes before? The dried flor de jamaica or hibiscus blossoms are seemingly everywhere these days….in cocktails, jams, and even as sweetened dried snacks at Trader Joe’s. But dried jamaica flower recipes have been infused in Mexican cuisine forever.

What are Jamaica {Hibiscus} Flowers

Jamaica flowers are also called flor de jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-kuh) in Spanish and hibiscus flowers in English and they all refer to the same thing, the dried burgundy-hued petals of the roselle plant or Hibiscus sabdariffa.

There are 232 species of hibiscus and not all of them are edible. The ones we eat are very different from the ones we grow for their large blossoms.

Interestingly enough, when you buy hibiscus {jamaica} flowers it isn’t really the flower at all but the calyx or sepals of the flower which encloses the petals and forms a protective layer around the bud.

Where Do You Buy Them?

The dried jamaica can bought by the pound online.

The best prices and quality can be found at your local Latin Market where they are sold in huge bulk bins for next to nothing.

When you’re buying dried hibiscus look for whole petals, not cut or broken flowers that are a jumble of stems and leaves.

Other Hibiscus Flower Products

• Hibiscus Tea (the most popular being Red Zinger)
• Sweetened and dried Hibiscus Flowers, with the texture and taste of dried cranberries.
• Candied Jamaica in syrup
• Jamaica Flower Drink

The Healing Properties of Jamaica Flower Recipes

Dried jamaica flowers brewed into tea has been proven to help lower blood pressure, and cholesterol.

The flowers are packed with antioxidants and Vitamin C and are excellent for your liver and digestive systems. Flor de jamaica (hibiscus) is also a natural diuretic and helps to reduce bloating.

The popular Mexican drink, Agua de Jamaica, still has all these properties but is also high in sugar, so if you are going for health benefits it’s best to stick to brewing unsweetened tea.

Side effects of hibiscus flowers are minimal but if blood pressure control is a problem for you, or you take medication that may interact with hibiscus tea, consult your doctor.

The Easiest Way To Make Jamaica Tea

1. Give the dried flowers a quick rinse to get rid of any dust or particles.
2. Place one whole dried flower in a cup and pour over hot water. Steep for 5 minutes.
3. By itself the flowers are very tart so sweeten to your liking with honey.
4. To make a pitcher of iced tea, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1/4 cup honey (or more to taste) and 1/4 cup jamaica flowers. Let cool, strain out the flowers and serve over ice.

What Else Can Be Made with Flor de Jamaica?

Jamaica flowers go way beyond tea. Let’s check out ten more great recipes using Flor de Jamaica that you should be making right now.

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1. hibiscus agua fresca or agua de jamaica

2. flan de jamaica

3. strawberry hibiscus palomas

4. strawberry-hibiscus shortbread cookies

5. pineapple hibiscus margaritas

6. creamy chicken enchiladas with jamaica mole sauce

7. blackberry hibiscus sorbet

8. Hibiscus Mimosas

9. Jamaica-Braised Breakfast Sausage

10. ponche de navidad {hot mulled hibiscus punch}

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how to get out a jamaica stain

The only downside to Jamaica flowers is they can really stain your white counter tops and ceramic cups. Here’s a cleaning hack I love to get it out.

other mexican ingredients to explore!

• 17 Chipotles en Adobo Sauce Recipes
• 12 Jicama Recipes To Get Our Crunch On
• 9 Tomatillo Recipes (That Aren’t All Salsa!)
• Inside A Mexican-American Pantry—The Ultimate Guide
• The Best Canned Chipotle Peppers in Adobo

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