How To Make Tea & 4 Other Fun Things To Do With Hibiscus

Hibiscus flowers are wildly popular here in Houston, with their massive blossoms in every color combination you can imagine, and we’ve been hearing a lot of interest from you about how to make your own hibiscus tea at home. Luckily, it’s pretty easy, and the benefits of hibiscus tea are amazing! It’s packed with antioxidants and tons of flavor, so you can toss it back all summer long—preferably over ice—without any guilt. 

But why stop there? There are so many other creative ways you can make use of the massive blossoms found on these popular tropical plants. If you’re on the lookout for some exotic new recipes, a fun DIY craft, or an out-of-the-box gardening project, take a look at these fun ideas that make great use of one of our favorite exotic flowers. 

How Do You Make Hibiscus Tea At Home?

Collect about two cups of blossoms, remove the calyx and pistil from the middle, and wash them thoroughly. Bring eight cups of water to a boil, then add in the flowers, place a lid on the pot, and turn off the heat. Let it steep for 20 minutes, mix in ¼ cup of honey and 3 tablespoons of lime juice, and then strain. 

Serve it hot right away, or chill it in the fridge for the ultimate satisfying cold drink on a hot day. You can even play around with different infusions by adding in some fresh mint or sliced strawberries. It’s great in cocktails too, with a splash of vodka, soda water, and simple syrup.

4 Fun Things To Do With Hibiscus

You can make so much more than just tea with these jumbo sized blooms. Here are some other fun uses that you can enjoy this summer!

Hibiscus Quesadillas

Surprisingly enough, the petals have quite a nice texture when cooked, making them a fantastic meat substitute for Mexican dishes like enchiladas and quesadillas. You need to use dried petals, so you can either order some online, or dry your own from the garden. Cook up one cup of dried petals in some water so they rehydrate, strain them, and then season them up with your favorite spices. Continue frying them up with a mix of shredded jicama, carrots and onion, and then use it as a filling just like you would with pulled pork. 

Make Floral Infused Candles

There are two ways to infuse floral scents into homemade candles: sprinkling dried petals into the candle mold, or adding your own DIY floral infused oil to the wax. Heating dried petals on the stovetop in some coconut oil and letting it simmer will help to get all that rich color and scent into the oil, and you can add a splash of it into your candle wax. There are tons of online tutorials on how to make candles, so find a simple set of instructions, then spruce it up with your fancy flower infusions and pretty dried petals. Add in a few other complementary oils and fragrances like orange oil, vanilla, or rosewater for a little extra fanciness. 

Grow A Hibiscus Bonsai 

By propagating a cutting, you can grow a hibiscus plant into a bonsai tree with the right training and pruning. Fill a container with bonsai soil and plant your cutting directly—it won’t need any rooting hormone, and so long as it gets plenty of sun it should continue to develop normally. Use a cutting from a dwarf variety, so the size is more manageable and the blossoms won’t be overwhelmingly huge. Regularly trim back the leaves a bit so it doesn’t get too heavy and start toppling over. 

Tropical Flower Crowns

Bridal showers, birthdays, and plenty of other outdoor summer celebrations feel so much more festive and fun once you break out the flower crowns. But instead of going for a janky faux flower crown from the Dollar Tree, why not design your own gorgeous, 100% real tropical flower crown using exotic garden flowers? With some wire, a little gardener’s tape, and some fresh cut flowers, you can create a seriously beautiful headpiece that totally brings the summer goddess vibes. 

Remember, if you plan on consuming any parts from the plants in your garden, don’t use chemical pesticides! Keep things safe and clean with organic solutions like castille soap spray. If you’d like to start growing your own hibiscus plants at home, feel free to place an order over the phone with us at Plants for All Seasons, or come visit us in-store! Remember, we’ve got curbside pickup and delivery available for you, so you can get your plant fix without any hassle.