An annual that will produce delicious cranberry or currant jelly in the North from spring seeding should interest every home gardener.
Using Roselle
Roselle (Hibiscus sabdiriffa) can be used as a source of juice which, when mixed with commercial pectin, produces a brilliant violet-red jelly with a flavor that is a delightful blend of cranberry, currant, and raspberry, with perhaps a touch of wild crab.
Although grown to a limited extent in the South, widespread use of Roselle has been held back because many suppose the flower bracts or buds must be formed before the brilliant violet-red juice can be extracted.
This is not true. Any part of the plant above ground can be used. Though I have not used the roots for this purpose, they might be rich in color, too.
Easy to Make
The stems and leaves are simply covered with boiling water, kept boiling for about 20 minutes, and then cooled.
After the spent leaves and stems have been strained, a clear pink, red, or red-violet juice remains, which forms the base for jellies.
The exact color depends somewhat on the acidity of the water used for cooking. When mixed with commercial pectin, a brilliant jelly is produced.
World-famous Queensland Jelly
This, incidentally, is the world-famous Queensland Jelly, for which British gourmets pay a fancy price. It is imported into Britain from Australia and New Zealand.
Roselle has other uses besides serving as a jelly source. In some parts of the South, the tender young leaves are boiled to produce a red “sorrel” soup, quite tart in flavor.
The romantic name of Violet Soup calls this. Good cooks could no doubt modify any good sorrel soup recipe to produce many interesting combinations.
The stems should not be used in soup since they contain an extremely tough fiber that is used for cordage in some parts of India.
A Summer Drink
Another delightful use for Roselle is as a summer drink. The extracted juice is a bit strong “as is” and needs to be thinned with water, sweetened, and chilled.
This produces a tart, thirst-quenching summer drink reminiscent of the “shrub” that grandmother made from raspberry, cherry, and currant juices.
Mothers who want to do something about the persistent cries of the young for syrupy soft drinks in summer would be wise to investigate the properties of Roselle.
Where the Plant Grows
The plant grows readily in any good garden soil if sown after the soil has warmed up in late spring.
It resembles okra, understandably, since it is a close relative and requires the same culture.
Plants should be spaced about 12″ inches apart. Extraction of the juice can begin as soon as the plants are a foot tall.
44659 by R. Milton Carleton