I love a good cup of herbal tea. In fact, having a warm cup of tea is one of my favorite beverages when fall hits. In the past, I have experimented with dried lemon balm and mint which worked not only to aid in digestion, but also assisted in lifting my spirit on cold, dreary days.
When planning my garden last winter, I came across an interesting article that mentioned growing and drying roselle to use in teas. Intrigued, I bought seeds and planted two starts in my front yard garden to experiment with.
I was not disappointed. Not only do I love the taste of it, but I enjoy the benefits as well.
What is Roselle?
Hibiscus Sabdariffa is a culinary species of the hibiscus family that is related to okra. This is glaringly apparently if you have ever grown okra as both plants flower in a similar fashion. Not only is it an ornamental plant, but it can also be practical. The calyces are commonly dried and used to make tea.
Many people compare the taste to cranberries with a hint of lemon. It is popular for its medicinal uses as it is high in vitamin c. The tea produces a rich, pink color and is used in Jamaica as a seasonal drink, “Rosa de Jamaica”.
Other parts of the plant are edible, although not commonly used. The leaves, which have a spicy flavor, can be used similar to spinach. Both the leaves and calyces contain a natural pectin that is useful in making pies or jams.
How do you grow Roselle?
Roselle is easiest to grow if you start indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost date. It prefers a warm environment, so a heat mat is suggested, and favors damp (not wet) soil that is light and fluffy. Your seed should sprout between 10-14 days and, after sprouting, it does require a grow light for optimal development.
In order to help the seed sprout, it is recommended to scrape the seed pod with a nail file. I found it easiest to take two seeds in hand and roll them over, scratching them against each other before sowing.
This plant is perennial in warmer climates and prefers hot, humid weather. Here in southwest Missouri, it is considered an annual.
An easy trick when it comes to sowing seeds is to plant as deep as the seed is wide. Since roselle is around ¼ inches across, it needs to be placed ¼ below the top of your soil line for the best germination rates.
This plant needs adequate space to stretch; it can grow over six feet tall and five feet wide. When loaded down with calyces, your plant may also require support to prevent branches from snapping. Additionally, it does best with full sun. Fertile soil is preferable, but if you amend too much your plant may become bigger but produce fewer calyces.
How do you harvest Roselle?
Roselle will typically begin producing flowers in the fall. October is a good rule of thumb when planning your garden as you will not pull up this plant when your summer garden winds down. You can tell when a roselle plant is getting ready to yield after it starts blooming.
Harvesting is fairly easy and straight-forward. After your plant begins blooming, the petals will drop and, between day six and ten, and you will see that several deep, red calyces have formed along the branches. To ensure you aren’t picking them prematurely, you can look at the pointy, red calyces. When the calyx is an inch wide around the seed pod, it is time. These can be harvested with scissors or pruning shears and placed in a bowl to process. The more you pick, the more your general yield will increase.
If you are planning on making tea, you don’t dry the whole cutting as the calyx is on the outside and the inside includes a seed pod which is too hard to be useful. Simply remove the outside leaves by peeling and dispose of the pod.
Roselle does best if it is dried immediately after harvesting. The longer you wait, the higher chance it will lose its texture and develop mold. Best practice is to begin processing within 24 hours.
Can I save seeds?
Absolutely! Saving seeds to use next year is as easy as leaving several large calyces on the plant to dry out. While you can cut them off after a few weeks and let them dry on the counter, I plan on leaving mine on the plant and let mother nature do the hard work. They do need to be brought inside before your first freeze or snowfall. Seeds need to be stored in a dry, cool, dark location.
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