USES FOR HIBISCUS:
THE TYPICAL, THE UNIQUE, AND TRENDING
There are a multitude of ways that hibiscus can be used other than in teas, beers, and cocktails. It is used to flavor jams, baked goods, and even makes an excellent marinade or dry rub for beef because of its tangy taste and high tannin content (similar to red wine). You can reference some of our other blog posts to see how food and beverage companies have more recently embraced hibiscus and its benefits by using it in exciting new products.
A notable way to use hibiscus is as a meat substitute. When the dried flower is rehydrated and sautéed, it becomes chewy and takes on a meat-like texture. In the past, this was most commonly used in Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes. You could also find chefs in Mexico, following the somewhat lost tradition of cooking with flowers, starting to use hibiscus in tacos and quesadillas instead of pork or beef. Just like the taco craze itself, this way of using hibiscus has really taken off, creating a wave of vegetarian and vegan taco recipes popping up all over the internet. This sounds like a trend worth exploring!
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), the type of dried hibiscus we offer, is also used to make a variety of skincare products and cosmetics for both color and vitamins. The dried, powdered flowers are used in shampoos and conditioners, body washes, lip balms, facial scrubs, body polishes, lotions, soap, bath bombs, and more.
