Hibiscus tea – an Introduction and where to buy it in UK

Spring is in the air and it’s time to get my Herbal infusion out from the back of the cupboard.

Today I am indulging in a raspberry and strawberry Herbal Tea, which infused, carries acid notes and a freshness that begs of summer already. The flavors are light, the color, vibrant, crimson red, thanks to Hibiscus, one of the main ingredients in the drink. The title doesn’t mention it but it is primarily hibiscus that gives the drink this deep red color.

Hibiscus Herbal Tea

Hibiscus is a shrub, herb or tree, growing in warm temperate, sub-tropical and tropical climates with beautiful flowers boasting a variety of red shades. Hibiscus sabdariffa is the species most widely consumed in the form of infusions made from the sepal-base of the flower after it’s properly dried. Infusions or tisanes are also made from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis also known as the Chinese rose.

Just like tea, hibiscus is a staple plant in the beverage culture of many countries, particularly in Africa, Middle East and South East Asia. The flowery shrub is admired for its beauty but also gustative and nutritious qualities such as the ability to lower the blood pressure and has a bigger story to tell than one might think – this plant was not only infused but also eaten during famines thanks to its comestible parts. I will come back to hibiscus in a separate in depth post because I know I just stumbled upon an exotic treasure and I have to find out more!

Where can I buy hibiscus tea in UK?

I think the herbal tea made from hibiscus is yet to trend in the west. Although it is not hard to find it in online stores, it will take you some time to look for Hibiscus Tea on the supermarket shelves. Even then, rather than on its own, chances are you will find it as an ingredient in the most common and more mainstream strawberry, raspberry, or any other red berry blends.

From the main UK retail chains, only Tesco offers hibiscus tea under the name “Sorrel Herbal Tea”, however at the moment of writing this post, their website didn’t have it in stock. The online supermarket Ocado offers “100% Pure Wilde Hibiscus Herbal Tea”, 20 tea bags per pack, priced at £4.89.

Specialized tea merchants such as Chiswick, Tea&Coffee and Pekoetea usually offer hibiscus on its own and the price ranges from £3 to just under £7 per 100 gr. You can buy it either by visiting their online store or brick-and-mortar shops. Tea&Coffee also has many distribution points throughout the country.

Tagged: herbal infusion, Herbal tea, hibiscus tea, sorrel herbal tea