384585 Sat Mar 24 16:41:51 -0700 2007 21 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 2417865 When in Mexico, I enjoy "agua de jamaica", a sort of tea steeped from part of the dried flower of the hibiscus, then served chilled with (only a little) sweetener. It's a beautiful scarlet color, and a refreshing warm weather beverage. I cannot find the dried "flores de jamaica" in my nearby mexican markets, and I'm ready to mail order if I must. Ayudame!! Veggo Sat Mar 24 16:41:51 -0700 2007 57170 Veggo 1 2418191 I remember seeing dried hibiscus flowers at Whole Foods in their spices and herb department, in the bulk. Sat Mar 24 20:21:33 -0700 2007 2417865 20387 tobycat 1 2418193 Isn't Red Zinger hibiscus tea, or at least part of the blend? Sat Mar 24 20:23:14 -0700 2007 2417865 61669 Quine 2 2419285 Yes, with rose hips added. Sun Mar 25 12:21:34 -0700 2007 2418193 11231 Glencora 3 2419707 Yep...Red Zinger uses the hibiscus...and I believe some of the other Celestials also do! Sun Mar 25 15:49:30 -0700 2007 2419285 11983 Val 1 2418220 Hm...William-Sonoma carries a tea of dried flowers, which literally open up when you steep them in hot water. I can't recall the name, but I hope this helps you in finding what you want. G'luck! Sat Mar 24 20:41:13 -0700 2007 2417865 11006 chica 2 2418909 Here's an online source http://www.mexgrocer.com/9689.html Here a search list of all of their jaimaica products http://mexicanfood.mexgrocer.net/search/index.php?q=jamaica&x=10&y=8 That being said, I haven't found a Mexican market with it. I've also found it in the International section of most grocery stores with the Mexican foods. You 'my chow' page indicates you are from Florida, sort of. Maybe the sort of negates the Florida, but ... really ... no Mexican grocers in the area of Florida where you are located? Maybe print out the picture and bring it with you. Usually just say jamaica (ha-my-ka) is enough. Maybe the 'flor de' is throwing them. In most Mexican markets if it is not located in big loose bins, it will be found in the spice section with the packaged chilis. Sun Mar 25 09:22:46 -0700 2007 2418220 10264 rworange 1 2419148 Thank you to all four of you, I think I can get there from here now. And I'm going to buy a nice glass pitcher for it. Veggo Sun Mar 25 11:24:39 -0700 2007 2417865 57170 Veggo 2 2419187 Cool. I meant to say in my post above that I haven't found a Mexican market WITHOUT it. Another thought is that most Mexican restaurants that serve aqua fresca usually have Jamaica ... some better than others. I love it when it is deeply flavored and smoky. Sun Mar 25 11:37:00 -0700 2007 2419148 10264 rworange 3 2425456 Batch #1: strong flavor concentration, lightly sweetened, definitely smoky, color of a Bordeaux. Slightly astringent, invites comparisons to a non-alcoholic Campari. Intriguing set of flavors, unless I am simply reading too much into a subject new to me. Tue Mar 27 10:39:57 -0700 2007 2419187 57170 Veggo 4 2426802 Nope, good description. Adjust sugar and strength to your taste. I like when jamaica is smoky. Tue Mar 27 16:14:26 -0700 2007 2425456 10264 rworange 1 2419739 I get my hibiscus flowers at Kalustyan's in Manhattan. Sun Mar 25 16:04:44 -0700 2007 2417865 14985 aelph 1 2420941 Most Latino markets in my area have it in the produce department. Sometimes it's out in bins, loose. Other times it's prebagged and preweighed. There's instant agua de jamaica powder (sort of like Mexican Kool-Aid) available in the powdered drink aisle in the supermercados but it will only do in a jamaica emergency. It's way too artificial and way too sweet. If there's any way you can avoid buying on-line, try to do so. The "gourmet" prices for a standard item will kill you. Mon Mar 26 07:03:18 -0700 2007 2417865 25244 rockycat 2 2422210 I found a wonderful latin market hiding in plain sight. I bought a big bag full out of a bin for $4.49/lb. The fun begins...thanks again, hounds. Mon Mar 26 12:22:52 -0700 2007 2420941 57170 Veggo 3 2426853 Hot tip: use that tea as an ingredient in sangria. SO much better than 7-Up! Tue Mar 27 16:27:57 -0700 2007 2422210 11478 Will Owen 3 2427877 Looking for something else, I found this on Chow about jamaica or hibiscus. A few other ideas for it besids agua fresca ... I;ve been into gelatin lately so I might give that a try. Hibiscus is used fresh for making wine, jelly, syrup, chutneys, gelatin desserts, beverages, puddings, and cakes. Dried hibiscus is used for tea, jelly, marmalade, ice cream, sherbet, flavored butter, fruit tarts, and other desserts. http://www.chow.com/ingredients/130 Tue Mar 27 23:55:47 -0700 2007 2422210 10264 rworange 4 2434916 My first exposure to jamaica was in Mexico where I had it as a paleta (popsicle). Then I found out about the agua fresca. It makes a great ice pop. Fri Mar 30 06:52:36 -0700 2007 2427877 25244 rockycat 1 2433376 Most "health food" type stores that are big enough to seel bulk teas and herbs sell dried hibiscus flowers. Thu Mar 29 15:00:06 -0700 2007 2417865 23824 niki rothman 1 2433460 Trader Joe's is carrying dried hibiscus flowers in the nut/dried fruit aisle Thu Mar 29 15:28:29 -0700 2007 2417865 14123 ciaobella 2 2434811 The product from the bulk bin @ $4.49 /lb. is considerably more economical than the prepackaged- $1.98 for 2 ounces- and seems fresher, and probably is. Fri Mar 30 05:55:51 -0700 2007 2433460 57170 Veggo 1 4833429 I buy at Whole Food stores and several local health food stores. I now have a few plants but would like to know when is the best time to pick the flowers and if I just let them dry naturally to make my own tea. Mon Jul 06 10:44:10 -0700 2009 2417865 1091137 mamanana7 2 4833785 You might get a better response if you posted this as a new topic on the gardening board rather than tacking on to a two year old thread. http://chowhound.chow.com/boards/62 Mon Jul 06 12:15:31 -0700 2009 4833429 10264 rworange