Archive for December 22nd, 2007

Winter tisane

Published by Maya on December 22, 2007 under General

This is the time of the year when we are most likely to catch a cold. Many people I know did already. No wonder, with such a freezing cold outside! So I’m dedicating this little article especially to all of you who are unfortunately ill.

Having spoken a whole lot about tea and hot drinks lately, I wish to tell you a bit more about this immune system booster I got as a gift from Egypt a couple of months ago. It’s name is hibiscus and it makes for a wonderful drink, either hot in winter or cold in summer.

Hibiscus sabdariffa

I was longing to make my own tisane blend and hibiscus came right on time :) With an addition of an organic orange and lemon rind, this tisane makes an absolute vitamin C bomb. And here is how you can do it yourself at home:

Orange and lemon rind
Wash the orange and lemon well and dry them. Peel the rind in thin, long stripes. Be sure you use organically grown fruit.

Ready to prepare an aromatic infusion
Dry the rind for 2 days, then store it in an air tight container together with the dried hibiscus flowers.


Bring some spring or filtered water to boil, add some hibiscus flowers and the orange and lemon rinds, then lower the fire and cook the tisane for 7-10 minutes.

Karkade
Transfer the tisane into a kettle, then filter and pour in the cups. You get a great warming drink of incredible colour and scent. Make it sweeter with a teaspoon of honey and enjoy!

Karkade
This plant has many different names, mine is called “karkade” as they call it in Egypt.

Read more »