Hibiscus tea is a herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-colored calyces (sepals) of the roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) flower. It is consumed both hot and cold and has a tart, cranberry-like flavor.

Consumption: Africa

The roselle hibiscus used to make the tea likely originated in Africa.[1] In Africa, hibiscus tea is commonly sold in markets and the dried flowers can be found throughout West and East Africa. Variations on the drink are popular in West Africa and parts of Central Africa. In Senegal, bissap is known as the "national drink of Senegal". Hibiscus tea is often flavored with mint or ginger in West Africa. In Ghana it is known as "sobolo", and "zobo" in Nigeria.

Karkadé (Arabic: كَركَديه karkadīh pronounced [kɑrkæˈdiːh]) is served hot or chilled with ice. It is consumed in some parts of North Africa, especially in Egypt and Sudan

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Consumption: Americas

Agua de flor de Jamaica, also called agua de Jamaica and rosa de Jamaica, is popular in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America and the Caribbean. It is one of several common aguas frescas, which are inexpensive beverages typically made from fresh juices or extracts. Jamaica and other aguas frescas are commonly found in taquerias or other Mexican restaurants. It is usually prepared by steeping the calyces in boiling water, straining the mixture, pressing the calyces (to squeeze all the juice out), adding sugar, and stirring. It is served chilled, and in Jamaica, this drink is a tradition at Christmas, served with fruitcake or sweet potato pudding

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In Panama, both the flowers and the drink are called saril (a derivative of the English word sorrel). It is prepared by picking and boiling the calyces with chopped ginger, sugar, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is traditionally drunk around Christmas and Chinese New Year. This diverges from Mexico and Central America and is much more in line with the Caribbean, due to the strong West Indian influence in Panamanian culture; especially in Panama City and most of Panama's Caribbean coast.

In the English-speaking Caribbean, the drink, called sorrel, is made from the calyces, and it is considered an integral part of Christmas celebrations. In American soul food cuisine, hibiscus tea is included in a category of "red drinks" associated with West Africa.

Consumption: Southeast Asia

In Thailand, most commonly, roselle is prepared as a cold beverage, heavily sweetened and poured over ice, similar to sweetened fruit juices. Plastic bags filled with ice and sweetened 'grajeab' can be found outside most schools and in local markets. It is less commonly made into a wine.

Reviews have concluded that hibiscus tea consumption appears to modestly lower blood pressure in people with high blood pressure. Hibiscus tea was generally well tolerated, and did not adversely affect liver or kidney function at lower doses, but may be hepatotoxic at high doses.

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  • Kolibri [she/her]
    ·
    3 days ago
    dad stuff with his drinking cw: alcoholism

    my dad was trying to stay sober again, since he was getting very sick again from his drinking, but today he relapsed. and he still doesn't want to get any help, and he most likely just gonna drink himself to death. and it doesn't matter what anyone says or does, he won't get help. and so he is likely just going to die one of these days from it. but he legit can't keep doing this, it is hurting him. more and more as time passes.

    and why is that like,

    cw: suicide

    if I was to go to a therapist, expressed suicidal thoughts and talked about like just fucking off in the freezing cold at night under dressed. that's not allowed! can't have that! and i'd get the police sicced on me and a very expensive medical bills. but my dad? He just gets a free pass while slowly killing himself. However I imagine that if there was a way for intervention, there isn't, it would be shit and make things worse. It would just be there to punish my dad and not there to actually help, much like the psych wards. and I wouldn't want that either. and I wouldn't want him forced into something not by his choice either, like that speaking from personal experience. that isn't right either.

    either there nothing or if there is, it punitive in some way. I dunno. I'm tired. I'm tired of everything. god I wish things would just end.