Cherie Bender's Glitter Book of Magical Cooking: Featuring the Feminine Healing of the Hibiscus flower

Hibiscus Flower: Photo by Cherie

The Queen Hibiscus is Feminine Healing and Fun!
For Healing:
Let's start with an infusion of this beautiful tropical flower, which can be found in the Summer and in the Tropical garden,where I live, we are blessed all year round to have this Queen of flowers in many colors, my favorite being the pink double flower pictured here.
Fresh is always best, but, alternatively,  dried organic Hibiscus may be purchased or dried yourself on a sunny day and saved.
It's much better to make your own homegrown dried flowers: feeling the magic of creating something  healing with love, loving yourself and loving Planet Earth at the same time.
You can make an infusion the same way you might make regular tea using the leaves and flowers: for dried 1 oz. or 2 oz. for fresh flowers and leaves, to 1 pint of boiling water.
Put the herbs in a warmed teapot, pour on boiling water, leave covered to infuse, about ten minutes, until the flowers lose their color, and then strain.
Honey and lemon may be added, with a touch of grated ginger to taste. This amazing Hibiscus flower tea helps heal sexual feminine traumas, balances the psyche and is a natural diuretic, which means good for cleansing and detoxing the body. In the summer heat, refreshingly iced, it soothes the feminine heart. A few cups daily either warm or as iced tea, helps balance and heal the sexuality of women.
The beautiful Hibiscus flower may also be made into a tincture, which is a concentrated extract of dried herbs and flowers: Use a ratio of 25% undiluted alcohol, such as brandy, gin or vodka, to water. Add one part herbs, to two parts of liquid.
Place the herbs in a large jar and pour the alcohol and water mixture over it. Leave to macerate, shaking daily for two weeks.
Then, using a wine press, or pressing with a wooden spoon, press out the liquid and discard the herbs, which make a very good compost! Store in labeled dark bottles, keeping away from sunlight. Save all dried flowers,herbs and tinctures in this manner.
The gorgeous Hibiscus flower as a tincture, is conveniently effective, is very concentrated and can be taken when traveling or away from home.
For Fun!
As an exotic drink, this Royal Hibiscus Margarita helps fight cholesterol and tastes delicious.
 Just Perfect for that "Thank God Its Friday" feeling. Here, in this recipe, paired with fresh squeezed Orange juice and agave nectar; sweetens and is good for you!
Hibiscus Reduction:
2 ounces dried hibiscus leaves, and petals.(double for fresh flowers & baby leaves)
3 ounces filtered water
warm the water slightly to lukewarm and add 2bl organic honey
Sour Mix:
4 ounces raw agave nectar
4 ounces fresh squeezed orange juice
6 ounces water
Margarita Hibiscus TGIF:
2 ounces tequila of your choice
2 ounces hibiscus reduction
2 ounces sour mix
To Prepare:
1. In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix the hibiscus, water and Truvia. Simmer for 30 minutes, or until the color has gone from the petals. Remove from the heat, adding more Truvia to taste. Strain and cool.
2.For the sour mix, combine the agave nectar, orange juice, and water
Finally, shake together the tequila, hibiscus reduction, and sour mix. Strain over ice and serve in your most enticing Margarita glass.
This should yield a tart and crisp flavor. You may add more agave nectar per cocktail for added sweetness, and garnish with squeezed lime and a fresh hibiscus, per glass. To be drunk in good health, a Nectar fit for the Gods!
Photograph of Hibiscus by Cherie Bender
References:
Flower Power: by Anne McIntyre
Cooking Your Way To Gorgeous by Scott-Vincent-Borba