Oh my, oh my, oh my!! … here is a little gem we discovered and very excitedly brought home over the weekend, together with a shopping bag full of the necessary ingredients.

By doubling the ingredients you can make enough for around 10 people , my..what a perfectly lovely refreshing cocktail.

This recipe has earned pride of place in our Pantry Recipe Book of Favorites.

Mmmm, note for pantry… A thank you note to Giada De Laurentiis!! Yes!

Hibiscus Tea with Vodka and Citrus

from: Giada De Laurentiis, Redbook, June 2009

(Makes 4-6 Servings)

Ingredients

4 cups water

2 cups (2 oz) dried, sweetened hibiscus flowers, dried rose petals, or hibiscus, rose hip or Red Zinger tea bags

1/3-1/2 cup sugar, or to taste

2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice

1 Tbsp fresh lime juice

1 cup vodka chilled

1 cup ice

Method

• In a medium saucepan, combine water, hibiscus flowers, and sugar over medium-high heat

• Bring to the boil, stirring occasionally, until sugar has dissolved

• Let cool 25 minutes

• Add lemon juice, lime juice, and vodka

• Place ice in a tall pitcher

• Strain tea into pitcher and discard flowers

• Refrigerate before serving

Notes/Results: Delicious, refreshing and slightly addictive, another cocktail that you can drink right down before you know it. The drink has a sweet, slightly citrusy-floral-berry taste to it and is excellent for a hot evening.

The bright, festive color makes it a great drink to serve at a party. I used just 1/4 cup of sugar in mine with the sweetened hibiscus flowers and it was perfect. If you don’t imbibe, it would be delicious without the alcohol, and if you can’t find the dried hibiscus blossoms at TJ’s, a natural food store, or a Latin market, you can always use Red Zinger tea or rose petals for a still exotic and fun cocktail.

A great recipe and a keeper.

Ching, Ching… to many an enjoyable cocktail hour

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