Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Brew
The 4th of July, also known as Independence Day, is a holiday when, as a united country, we celebrate our freedom! We are free to be with family, host parties, explore our nation, go to town fairs, and, of course, marvel at fireworks shows!
We look forward to traditions that honor our country’s rich history and all those men and women who have served and fought for our freedoms. We celebrate by spending time with family and friends, sharing delicious food, playing games, and making the most of a relaxing day off. While we are enjoying our time outside, be it at backyard barbeques, town fireworks displays, or vacations at the beach or the mountains, it's important to stay cool and well-hydrated.
Speaking of staying cool, let’s take a minute to focus on hibiscus, which is an amazing herb that can help the body cool down. It is part of a group referred to as “refrigerant herbs.” These herbs help cool and regulate our body temperature in hot weather.* Some of these astonishing “refrigerant herbs” include hibiscus, lavender, chamomile, spearmint, peppermint, and lemongrass.
As you can imagine, hibiscus is very popular in tropical regions, where it is consumed regularly to help acclimate to the heat. It can even help to replenish fluids lost through excess sweating due to hot weather.* In Hawaii, hibiscus has been used for hundreds of years for health benefits such as respiratory support, wound healing, and blood purification, as well as for culinary and cosmetic uses.*
Some other benefits of hibiscus tea are its anti-inflammatory properties, high vitamin C content, and the water-soluble flavonoid pigment, anthocyanin, which gives it a rich color and potential antioxidant property.*
Outside of its multiple benefits, hibiscus has a marvelous tart flavor, which exhibits cranberry and pomegranate notes. It also has an eye-catching, dark maroon color, making it the perfect choice for recipes that call for red coloring, without having to resort to harmful chemical food dyes.
With all this in mind, we have created an exhilarating summer trifle recipe that celebrates the holiday and uses the cooling powers of tart hibiscus, ripe berries, and luscious smooth cream to make this dish simple, sweet, and delectable.
Here is a hibiscus recipe to impress and delight your friends and family for your 4th of July celebrations this year!
Red, White, and Brew Trifle
Serves 12
Ingredients:
- 100 lady fingers
- 16 ounces of fresh whipped cream
- 2 pints each of raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries (reserve some fruit for the top)
- 1 125g packet of BH60: Hibiscus Flowers
- 1 10-ounce jar of JAM6: Raspberry Hibiscus Preserve
- 1 10-ounce jar HONEY3: Tupelo Honey
- fresh mint for garnish
- sprinkles (optional)
Directions:
- Steep 6 grams of BH60 in 40 ounces of hot water in a heat-safe pitcher (our AP11: Glass Iced Tea pitcher is perfect).
- Stir in honey and let cool.
- Wash the fruit and slice the strawberries.
- Pour a small amount (approx. 1 inch) of hibiscus tea in a bowl.
- Dunk the lady fingers in the tea, one second on each side.
- In a large serving bowl, arrange a layer of ladyfingers.
- Add a layer of jam.
- Add a layer of cream.
- Add a layer of fruit.
- Repeat these layers until the bowl is filled.
- Top with reserved fruit, sprinkles, and fresh mint.
Pour the extra tea in tall glasses over ice. With hearts ablaze with pride for our country, we will be nice and cool, enjoying a delicious dessert and refreshing iced tea.
Happy 4th of July from Upton Tea Imports!
*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If pregnant or nursing, please consult your physician before enjoying hibiscus.