Rosella

Dried rosella is a bright Thai herbal drink made from the fleshy calyces of hibiscus. It is not tea leaf, so there is no caffeine. The infusion turns a deep ruby red, with a fresh, expressive taste: tart and berry-like, a little like cranberry or redcurrant, with a light fruity sweetness.

Rosella is good hot and cold alike, especially over ice or with a little honey. It is also a beautiful natural ingredient that is easy to take home as a souvenir from Thailand. Rosella is often credited with various health benefits, but for us it is first of all a vibrant, refreshing caffeine-free drink, not a medicine.

At the counter we brew it as a fruit infusion rather than tea: about 5 g per 300 ml, water just off the boil, five to ten minutes. The longer it stands, the deeper the colour and the sharper the tartness; a spoonful of honey rounds it off. The same calyces take a second pour - paler, but still ruby - and over ice they become the deep red drink sold at every Thai market.