Hibiscus Cranberry Sauce – A Special Holiday Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How to cook cranberry hibiscus? ›

Make the Cranberry Hibiscus Sryup

In a small saucepan, bring water and sugar to a rolling boil. Simmer once the liquid looks clear. Add the cranberries, cinnamon and dried hibiscus to the boiling sugar syrup and let cook on medium heat until the cranberries soften and begin to 'pop'.

Cranberry hibiscus plants are tender perennials in USDA zones 8 to 9 but can be grown as annuals in other zones. Since they bloom so late in the season; however, the plants often are killed off by frost well before bloom time.

Packed with antioxidants, the Cranberry Hibiscus is like a health knight in shining armor. These natural compounds are crucial for combating oxidative stress, which can lead to chronic diseases. Regularly incorporating the leaves into your diet could be a simple yet effective way to boost your body's defense system.

The maroon leaves have a tart - some say citrusy - flavor. Leaves from the hibiscus varieties that I've eaten have a sour taste with no trace of bitterness, but the cranberry hibiscus also adds a dash of color to salads, sandwiches, and stir fries.

People taking chloroquine for the treatment or prevention of malaria should avoid Hibiscus sabdariffa products. Be cautious with this combination. Taking Hibiscus sabdariffa while taking diclofenac might alter levels of diclofenac in the body. This might change the effects and side effects of diclofenac.

Its seeds are harvested and eaten roasted, used for oil, or when ground, added to soups or sauces. Its leaves and shoots are cooked or eaten raw as a bitter vegetable or dried and ground to be added as sour flavoring for vegetables.

Hibiscus don't need to be pruned, but you may choose to shape Hibiscus by cutting back old growth in late fall or winter depending on your location. Otherwise Hibiscus produces new growth every year from the ground up.

Cranberry hibiscus thrives in a full-sun spot with rich soil and regular moisture. It tolerates part shade but may become leggy and, more importantly, lose the intensity of the leaf color. You can grow this plant in-ground or in large planters.

Those with low blood pressure and who take other medications may need to avoid hibiscus tea.

Improves Digestive Health - Hibiscus is a rich source of calcium which is not only good for healthy teeth and bones but contributes to the normal function of digestive enzymes in the gut. Hibiscus is also an effective but gentle natural laxative and diuretic, helping to support regular bowel movements.

Does hibiscus raise or lower blood pressure? ›

Research has uncovered a range of health benefits linked to drinking hibiscus tea, showing that it may lower blood pressure, reduce the growth of bacteria, and even aid weight loss.

Cranberry hibiscus is mostly known for its slightly sour or pleasantly tart young leaves which are commonly used as a vegetable, either raw or cooked. In South America, the leaves are used sparingly in salads and stir-fries. Leaves are eaten in small quantities due to acid content and because they are mucilaginous.

Named the cranberry hibiscus, for obvious reasons, is also known as the African roe mallow, maroon mallow , Mahogany Splendor, or red leaved hibiscus. In contrast to its tropical relatives, this rare hibiscus specimen is very hardy, enabling it to tolerate colder conditions.

Here are some ideas on how to eat Cranberry Hibiscus:

Sauté the leaves with garlic and olive oil or adding them to soups and stews. Make a delicious, tart tea using the flowers and/or calyx. Simply steep the flowers in hot water for a few minutes and enjoy, or dry them and use like dried tea leaves.