Iced Hibiscus Sun Tea
Nature's Gatorade + a must-read essay on Juneteenth
Hi friends!
Upstate NY is being smacked by a heat wave. So, I close the windows and blinds by day, the way my Nonna did, and prop them wide open at night. It’s amazing how well this trick works if you don’t have central AC!
I’m also making iced sun tea on repeat, and this recipe for Iced Hibiscus Sun Tea is a perfect segue-way to celebrate Juneteenth today.
'Sun tea' means you place the tea in direct sunlight and use heat from the sun to brew your beverage - how cool is that?!
Red drink is the official beverage of Juneteenth, rooted in the red-colored teas of West Africa that are made with ingredients like hibiscus petals or kola nuts.
I was first introduced to hibiscus tea by my godmother - now angel - who was Jamaican. (I’ll save her story for another letter.) Carol would make it with Sorrel (or Roselle), a hibiscus variety that was introduced to Jamaica from West Africa in the 18th century. In the winter, Carol brewed it warm with honey and cinnamon. In the summer, she poured it over ice.
She claimed it was good for “everything,” and she was pretty much right…
The tart petals are naturally high in vitamin C, beta-carotene, antioxidants, and organic acids that help boost the immune system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, aid digestion, relieve menstrual cramps and help with cycle regulation, boost collagen production, and reduce oxidative skin damage.
But most relevant right now, is Hibiscus’s ability to work like a natural Gatorade, helping to quench thirst while regulating body temperature. (You can buy Hibiscus flowers from Mountain Rose Herbs or Amazon, or specialty grocery stores and coops).
With Juneteenth arriving on the eve of the Summer Solstice, it’s the perfect beverage to have on hand.
Before diving into the recipe, I want to share an essay on Juneteenth that my friend and teacher wrote for my latest book Seasonal Family Almanac. Dr. Nia Nunn is a mother, artist, educator, speaker, activist, and community leader here in Ithaca, NY - check out her amazing work at www.drnianunn.com.
Sending love and firefly magic,
♡ Emma
Juneteenth
By Dr. Nia Nunn
Despite negative messages about people who look like me, my parents made sure I knew the beauty, boldness, and brilliance of Black people. They modeled a love for Blackness to me at home and as leaders in our community through a range of events and celebrations like Juneteenth.
Juneteenth always arrived at the start of summer break, a time of year that shifted me into a liberation mind-set, and one that stayed with me for life. Though Juneteenth only recently became a national holiday, it is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of African/European chattel slavery in the United States. It marks the day that chattel slavery was liberated from a Texas plantation two years after it was legally ended. It marks a day of truth.
Throughout my childhood and now in my role as a mother and community leader, June symbolizes Black Love and Joy. Today on Juneteenth, I help lead Black people to reflect on our history and look to a future centered on Black liberation and truth, education, achievement, and upliftment. And of course, we celebrate who we are. Grown-ups and children sway to the rhythm of live music, barbecues roar, adding fire-licked meat to a spread of soul food, and we circle for storytelling from our elders.
But Juneteenth also provides an opportunity for Black and non-Black people to be critical about what they are being taught about Blackness and Black people. Are we witnessing the truth, or anti-Blackness lies? One of the ways we can stop the ongoing dehumanization of Black people is to raise critically thinking children who can not only interrupt anti-Blackness, but love Blackness. The simplest way to get started is when you see, hear, or learn anti-Blackness, shout out loud, “That ain’t right!” Then, start a conversation.
Iced Hibiscus Sun Tea
From Seasonal Family Almanac: Recipes, Rituals, and Crafts to Embrace the Magic of the Year
This bright-hued iced tea offers an easy way to capture the beauty and medicinal properties of scarlet hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in a refreshing drink. Kids will love watching how the sun’s heat magically transforms the clear, infused water into a vibrant, scarlet hue.
Ingredients
1⁄2 cup dried Hibiscus sabdariffa flowers
1 cinnamon stick
Raw honey, agave nectar, or water-soluble sweetener of choice
Instructions: In a large glass pitcher or jar with a lid, combine 8 cups of water with the hibiscus flowers and cinnamon stick. Put in a sunny spot outside and let infuse for 3 to 4 hours. Strain and sweeten to your desired taste. Compost or discard the botanicals. Add ice to chill the tea. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. Drink 1 cup daily or as desired. For fun, give kids a cinnamon straw to slurp it!
Notes: This tea can also be made as an overnight infusion in the refrigerator year-round. Combine all the ingredients, except for the sweetener, in a large glass pitcher or jar with a lid and refrigerate for 8 to 10 hours or overnight. Strain and sweeten to your desired taste. Adults can add sparkling wine for a delicious spritz. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.