Mashroub al Karkade

(Hibiscus Tea)

It’s like a national drink of Egypt. It is a herbal tea with a tart flavour similar to that of cranberries. It is made by steeping dried hibiscus flowers in boiling water. This can be consumed both hot and cold. In Egypt, wedding celebrations are traditionally toasted with a glass of hibiscus tea.

It has great health benefits. It is packed with antioxidants, consumption of this can help in lowering blood pressure and blood fat levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flower

• 4 cups water

• 1.5 cup sugar (can adjust as per preference)

• rose water and mint (optional)

• lemon juice (optional)

Method

Mix water and hibiscus flower and bring to boil.  Cover and leave it to cool. This will ensure we get the maximum flavour from the flower in water and also get a nice dark red colour. Strain and add sugar.

This tea can be serve hot or cold.

Optional

You can add few drops of lemon juice to increase the tartness. You can add rose water or mint as per your preference. Both give an interesting twist to this drink.