What Does Hibiscus Taste Like?


Quick Answer: What Does Hibiscus Taste Like?

Hibiscus’ flavor is fruity and tart, similar to cranberry or pomegranate. The taste of the hibiscus flower is tart and floral. It can be a bit sour and has fruity undertones. Hibiscus can be a little sour, but it only turns bitter when you over-steep it. People generally sweeten it to cut back on any sour, tart, or bitter taste that it may have. 

In this guide, I am going to discuss what hibiscus tastes like in detail.

Let us get started!

What Is Hibiscus?

Hibiscus belongs to the Roselle Plant. Hibiscus plants are also called rose mallow, rose of Sharon, etc.

The tiny trees feature these vibrant red flowers. Some hibiscus species are cultivated for ornamental value. 

The edible part of the hibiscus flower is the calyx, a collection of sepals, which is that part of a flower that holds the petals when they bloom and also protects the bud.

The hibiscus is a perennial flower and flowers throughout the year.

What Does Hibiscus Taste Like?

The hibiscus flower’s taste is sharp and floral. You can also say it is a bit sour and has fruity notes. Hibiscus can be eaten straight from the plant, which is not uncommon, but it is usually dried or used to make tea, jams, salads, or drink that taste refreshing. 

In short, the taste of hibiscus is floral, tart, and sour, with hints of forest fruits. The flavor profile of the hibiscus flower allows it to work with a lot of spirits (Alcohol). It has a tart and fruity taste and vivid red color, making it very pleasant. 

Hibiscus can be a little sour, but it only becomes bitter when you steep it for an extended period.

People usually sweeten hibiscus or add other spices like cinnamon or herbs like lemongrass to cut back on any tart, sour, or bitter taste that it might have.

Hibiscus has a light, subtle smell; it is so faint that you might think it is odorless.

The tartness of hibiscus is reminiscent of cranberry or pomegranate. Because it’s not a sweetly floral flavor, it works well in savory dishes, too.

Culinary Uses Of Hibiscus

You can eat them raw, but they are mainly used in many dishes. They add not just color but a unique taste to the dishes. 

  • Hibiscus Sangria. The tangy taste of hibiscus mixes well with the sweet wine and fruit flavors in this drink.
  • Odd duck’s hibiscus empanadas.  
  • Hibiscus tea
  • Hibiscus sorbet. The recipe has three ingredients: dried hibiscus, raw cane sugar, and fresh ginger to make a tart but sweet, spicy sorbet.
  • Hibiscus can also be mixed with citrus juices or fruit, ginger or mint, dried spices (like cinnamon or cloves), or even alcohol (like vodka, beer, or rum) to improve or simply complement its unique flavor.
  • Hibiscus taco. 

Watch the Taco recipe here –

How To Store Hibiscus?

Hibiscus doesn’t really go “bad,” but it can get stale. Like any other tea or dried herb, hibiscus should be stored well to remain fresh for as long as possible. Hibiscus has the best flavor when brewed and consumed as soon as possible after its processing date.

If stored properly, hibiscus will stay fresh and drinkable for up to two years.

To keep your hibiscus fresh for as long as possible, store it in a cool and dark place.

Please keep it away from light, oxygen, moisture, and aromatic companions like coffee or spices.

How To Dry Hibiscus Flowers?

It is not difficult if you have hibiscus plants and want to dry your flowers. You just need to place the petals, and only the petals, not other parts of the flower, on a drying rack – ideally in a dry, warm, and sunny place. 

It can take about one week for the petals to dry thoroughly.

Or even better, if you have a dehydrator, use that to dry them.

What Does Hibiscus Tea Taste Like?

The tea is known to have a tart, sour or bitter taste, but it does have a faint sweetness to it as well. You can sweeten the tea with a bit of raw honey or add spices like cloves or cinnamon to it.

It has a mix of tartness and fruitiness to it.

The natural sweetness is not overwhelming, and the tart flavor is often compared to the cranberry flavor. 

Not only is it tasty, but its gorgeous ruby red color makes it stunning!

How To Make Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus tea is herbal. It is made from parts of the hibiscus plant; the petals and sepals—the green bulb located in the center of the petals, are infused in hot water to create a crimson red tea.

When brewing hibiscus, don’t over-steep the flowers because that will lead to a bitter taste. Boil water and add two tablespoons of hibiscus flowers to brew the tea.

Let it steep for approximately five minutes. If you like strong tea, let it steep a little longer. If you want weak tea, reduce the steeping time.

Garnish the tea with honey, lemon, sugar, or ginger. Since Hibiscus tea is not caffeinated, you can drink to your heart’s content.

In The End

I hope this guide helped you understand the taste of hibiscus.

If you have any queries, please let us know.

Do share this with your friends and family and help them know about it too!

Show Some Love by Sharing!

About Linda Walker

Linda loves anything creative, whether it be arts and crafts or cooking for her friends and family. She loves nothing more than a good netflix binge, especially thriller ones. She's a bit of a night owl, and is usually up until the early hours of the morning working on her craft projects. She lives with six pets who are all her furry children.

Leave a Comment
