Rose, Hibiscus, and Carcade Tea

Last Summer, I wrote about Emma and I making iced tea with oregano out in Oregon. We were complete addicts. I usually am a very lazy ice tea maker (as in I never make it), and depend on others to put it together. I think it has to do with the waiting for the tea to cool.  However, yesterday I was inspired enough to make a batch for myself.

I have always found myself completely lost in the world of flowers, and this is yet another example of my perdition. I had been wanting to make a tea with dried hibiscus flowers and dried roses. I had a jar of dried Damascene roses from my recent trip to Turkey; I had drank them in infusions daily while in Istanbul. Roses bring happiness and beauty into our lives, and I absolutely love the femininity of their petals floating in water as they steep. I thought that the hibiscus would perk up the flavor of the rose with its tartness, as well as give it a nice red color. However, once I went to the Egyptian Bazaar in Istanbul, my novel idea seemed cheesy, because I saw the combination for sale at almost every booth under the name of “Lovers Tea” or something of the sort. Yesterday my sense of pride was redeemed, when I found a third flower to include- a dried Carcade- from the same family of Hibiscus, but a bit more red in color, and tighter in shape. They, like the hibiscus flower, are rich in vitamins, such as Vitamin C, and help boost the immune system. I put a small handful of each of the three flowers in a large Ball jar, along with two sprigs of mint. I poured over boiling hot water and let it steep. Once it cooled, I placed it in the fridge to set overnight. The next day I had a glass of the vermilion tea, and felt like all was right in the world again. I thought that I would have to add stevia or honey, or even a drip of lime juice, but I was content with it just as it was. You might not be able to find Carcade near you, but at least hunt down the hibiscus (known as Jamaica in Spanish and Sorrel in Jamaica), and the dried roses (from Middle Eastern grocery stores) to make this for yourself.

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Rose, Hibiscus, and Carcade Iced Tea