Karkadeh Egyptian Hibiscus Iced Tea Recipes

Steps:

• Briefly rinse the dried flowers in cool water.
• In a saucepan heat two quarts (approximately two litres) of cold water. As soon as the water begins to boil, add the dried hibiscus. Immediately remove from heat and let the flowers steep for ten minutes.
• Pour the water from the pot into a pitcher using a strainer (lined with a cheesecloth) to separate the flowers from the water. (Be sure not to pour any of the flower sediment into the pitcher.).
• Stir in the sugar.
• Add any other flavorings (if desired).
• Add ice and chill completely.
• May be served over ice as well.
• Note: One common combination of flavorings is vanilla and mint. Bissap can be prepared double-strength, by using only half as much water. The resulting Jus de Bissap can be mixed with seltzer water, or lemon-lime soda. Jus de Bissap can also be mixed in cocktails.
• Also called l'Oseille de Guinée, Guinea Sorrel, and Karkadé.

Steps:

• In a saucepan, bring water to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add hibiscus flowers and let stand 5 minutes. Strain tea. Serve in chilled glasses over ice.

Steps:

• Place 6 cups of water in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Stir in the hibiscus petals, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice. Reduce heat to medium-low, and gently simmer until the water has turned a deep red, 30 to 45 minutes.
• Stir the chopped piloncillo into the hibiscus water until dissolved, then set aside to cool 15 minutes. After cooling, strain the warm liquid into a 1 gallon pitcher through a wire mesh strainer. Squeeze as much liquid from the petals as you can, then discard the petals. Stir in the white sugar until dissolved, then pour in enough cold water to fill the pitcher. Serve immediately or let stand overnight for best taste.