dried hibiscus flowers

[purplesachi]

hi.

i've been unsuccessful in finding dried hibiscus flowers. does anyone know where i can find them?

during the italian market festival, i walked into many mexican tiendas only to be stared at and denied when i mention hibiscus, or even jaimaica flowers.

i've also gone to the shoprite in norristown and have had no luck.

in case i am unclear, i'm looking for the dried flowers that you steep in hot water (and sugar), which i use to make iced tea, or hibiscus margaritas, etc.

i'm in the manayunk area, and am willing to travel wherever to find them (and if i do, i'll probably clean the store out since i have been unsuccessful).

the only place i've gotten them is in new brunswick, nj, at the french street farmer's market.

i've also seen them online, but i would prefer to find a store that carries it and buy it there.

many thanks!

[Dukeofyork]

  purplesachi said:

hi.

i've been unsuccessful in finding dried hibiscus flowers. does anyone know where i can find them?

during the italian market festival, i walked into many mexican tiendas only to be stared at and denied when i mention hibiscus, or even jaimaica flowers.

i've also gone to the shoprite in norristown and have had no luck.

in case i am unclear, i'm looking for the dried flowers that you steep in hot water (and sugar), which i use to make iced tea, or hibiscus margaritas, etc.

i'm in the manayunk area, and am willing to travel wherever to find them (and if i do, i'll probably clean the store out since i have been unsuccessful).

the only place i've gotten them is in new brunswick, nj, at the french street farmer's market.

i've also seen them online, but i would prefer to find a store that carries it and buy it there.

many thanks!

←

Is the Hibiscus 'tea' they drink in Africa made from the flowers? You can buy that 'tea' fairly easily, I think, and it might be cheaper to bust open the bags than what you're doing. I think you could get it at any Middle Eastern, Caribbean or African grocer.

EDIT: I think they call it Sorrel in Jamaican/Caribbean shops

Edited May 20, 2009 by Dukeofyork (log)

[purplesachi]

  Dukeofyork said:

Is the Hibiscus 'tea' they drink in Africa made from the flowers?  You can buy that 'tea' fairly easily, I think, and it might be cheaper to bust open the bags than what you're doing.  I think you could get it at any Middle Eastern, Caribbean or African grocer.

EDIT: I think they call it Sorrel in Jamaican/Caribbean shops

←

thanks for your response. i have heard that it's called sorrel in some places, though, the only familiarity i have with it is with mexican cuisine. here's a link to what i'm looking for. but i'll definitely give a try at other ethnic stores besides mexican.

[KatieLoeb]

The mexican grocer across the parking lot from Taqueria Veracruzana on Washington Avenue has a huge box of dried Jamaica that you scoop into a bag and buy by the pound. It's where I've always bought mine for infusing rum for cocktails. It's pretty reasonable too. I think it's like $6 or $8 pound, which is an enormous amount.

There's also a big pot on the table outside that same grocery store that usually has elotes for sale, and occasionally has tamales. Yum!

[purplesachi]

  KatieLoeb said:

The mexican grocer across the parking lot from Taqueria Veracruzana on Washington Avenue has a huge box of dried Jamaica that you scoop into a bag and buy by the pound.  It's where I've always bought mine for infusing rum for cocktails.  It's pretty reasonable too.  I think it's like $6 or $8 pound, which is an enormous amount.

There's also a big pot on the table outside that same grocery store that usually has elotes for sale, and occasionally has tamales.  Yum!

←

thank you so much! i actually went inside this store during the italian festival, but it was so jammed inside the store, i didn't make it far past the door. i'll definitely be making many trips here in the future!

[tmriga]

I know you've already found your solution, but for future reference, I'm up here in Allentown, and I pay next to nothing for my unique ingredients by shopping in corner markets. Where else can you get a pound of blanched ground almonds for 6 bucks, but in the Arabic stores? I use it to make almond paste and marzipan. It's a little bit of work, but so much cheaper than buying it already made.

Theresa