Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is a species of Hibiscus native to West Africa, used for the production of bast fibre and as an infusion, in which it may be known as carcade. It is an annual or perennial herb or woody-based subshrub, growing to 2–2.5 m (7–8 ft) tall. The leaves are deeply three- to five-lobed, 8–15 cm (3–6 in) long, arranged alternately on the stems. It is a shrub-like tropical annual that is also known as red sorrel, Flor de Jamaica, Jamaican sorrel, sour-sour and Florida cranberry. Botanically named Hibiscus sabdariffa, it is a member of the Mallow family and exhibits the characteristic five petal, funnel-shaped flower. Many parts of roselle including seeds, leaves, fruits and roots are used in various foods. Among them, the fleshy red calyces are the most popular.
| Name | Roselle |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hibiscus sabdariffa |
| Native | Native to Africa |
| Common/English Name | Florida Cranberry, Guinea Sorrel, Hibiscus, Indian Sorrel, Jamaican Sorrel, Jamaica tea fl ower, Java Jute, Jelly Okra, Karkadé, Natal Sorrel, Nubia tea, Pink Lemonade, Queensland Jelly Plant, Red Sorrel, Red Tea, Rosella, Roselle, Royal Roselle, Rozelle, Rozelle Hemp, Sorrel, Sour-Sour |
| Name in Other Languages | Finnish : Malvatee Senegal : Dakumu ( Bambara ) Botswana : Karkadeh Samoan : Uaina Russian : Роселла Burkina Faso : Bito (Mooré) Japanese : Rohzelu Burmese : Chin Baung Khmer : Slok Chuu Togo : Anyagha ( Ewé) Cameroon : Folere ( Fulfulde ) Malaysia : Asam Belanda Dutch : Amerikaansch Zuur Sierra Leone : Sour Sour ( Krio ) Egypt : Karkade Gabon : Bo-Kolo ( Eviya ) Niger : Bissap Tanzania : Rozi ( Ngindo ) Gambia : Wonjo Panama : Saril Mexico : Flor De Jamaica Vietnam : Bụp Giấm German : Afrikanische Malve Nepalese : Blechanda Ghana : Bissap Switzerland : Karkadé Guinea Conakry : Folere Boleyo Turkish : Afrika Bamyası Polish : Hibiskus Szczawiowy Hungarian : Hibiszkuszvirág Uganda : Musayi Angola : Tetia ( Ganguela ) India : Chukiar Nigeria : Yakuwa Indonesia : Gamet Walanda Sudan : Karkade Italian : Ibisco Africa : Ufuta Thailand : Krachiap-Daeng Laotian : Som Phor Dee Zambia : Lumanda Chinese : Mei Gui Qie Madagascar : Divay Central African Republic : Kokpo ( Banda ) Mali : Anjukooro Spanish : Acedera De Guinea Arabic : Bissap Portuguese : Azeda De Guiné Myanmar : Chin Baung Swedish : Hibiskus Congo : Abuya Namibia : Omutete Guinea Bissau : Baquitche Nicaragua : Hamaiga French : Karkadé Norwegian : Hibisk Danish : Hibiscus Philippines : Roselle Brazil : Caruru-Azedo Popular Republic of Congo : Bakoumou Iran : Chaye-Torosh Caribbean : Sorelle Paraguay : Grosella Benin : Bissap |
| Plant Growth Habit | Broad-leaved, erect and branched annual herb |
| Growing Climate | Prefers a warm and humid tropical climate and is susceptible to damage from frost and fog. It prefers full sun as it is not shade tolerant. |
| Soil | Does best in a well-drained, friable sandy loam soil rich in humus but is adaptable on many soils types— from sandy to clayey soils and can tolerate short periods of flooding. |
| Plant Size | 2–2.5 m (7–8 ft) tall |
| Root | Deep penetrating tap root |
| Stem | Bulbous, smooth or nearly smooth, cylindrical, typically red stems with spiny hairs. |
| Leaf | Alternate, 3 to 5 in (7.5-12.5 cm) long, green with reddish veins and long or short petioles. Leaves of young seedlings and upper leaves of older plants are simple; lower leaves are deeply 3- to 5- or even 7-lobed; the margins are toothed. |
| Flower | Axillary, solitary, predominantly yellow and red, regular, pedicellate; epicalyx of about 12 reddish bracts, connate at base, 10–12 mm long; calyx 15–30 mm long (enlarging in fruit to 40 mm), 5 reddish, large, accrescent, fleshy sepals, all sepals fused at base. |
| Fruit Shape & Size | Dehiscent, 5-valved, non-fleshy, bright red ovoid capsule, 18–20 mm long by 15–18 mm wide. |
| Fruit Color | Green when young and turns into bright Red as they mature. |
| Taste | Tart fruity similar to cranberry, rhubarb and red currant. |
| Seed | 3 to 4 kidney-shaped, light-brown seeds, 3-5 mm long and covered with minute stout and stellate hairs. |
| Varieties |
|
| Major Nutrition | Calcium, Ca 123 mg (12.30%) Iron, Fe 0.84 mg (10.50%) Vitamin C (Ascorbic acid) 6.8 mg (7.56%) Magnesium, Mg 29 mg (6.90%) Carbohydrate 6.45 g (4.96%) Phosphorus, P 21 mg (3.00%) Potassium, K 119 mg (2.53%) Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) 0.016 mg (1.23%) Vitamin A, RAE 8 µg (1.14%) Vitamin B3 (Niacin) 0.177 mg (1.11%) |
| Health Benefits |
|
| Calories in 1 cup (57 gm) | 28 K cal |