You have probably heard of Roselle as a flavour of jam or tea but have you ever seen a Roselle bud? Do you know what it is?

As a species of Hibiscus, the shrubby looking red calyces are distinctive for their long closed leaves (or lobes) that are about 3-5 inches long. These flowers can be made into delicious jams with nothing but the buds and sugar, while others steep it to make a bright read tea and drink it for its medicinal properties. In fact, Roselle is used in many liquid forms from wines, to cold drinks to syrups and liqueurs. Did you know that in Africa, they drink Roselle coffee?

Note: When making tea (hot or cold), make sure you remove the seeds. Some believe it lowers blood pressure, relieves coughs, enhances renal function, and cures colds.