Hibiscus=sorrel=jamaica?

[loyaboya]

Hi everyone!

I was going to post a question about where you guys buy your hibiscus (either the powder or the dried flowers). I went asking at my local indian market (they seem to have EVERYTHING) and they had no clue what I was talking about. I want to use it with a shikakai wash.

But then I checked online and found mention that the jamaica juice/tea (pronounced hamaica) that you can find in mexican restaurants and stores is also hibiscus. I love that stuff but always thought it was "sorrel", which you can find in west indian stores/restaurants. Well I looked it up and sorrel is also a type of hibiscus! My question is- does anyone know if these are all the same type? Is the hibiscus that folks put in their hair the exact same thing as jamaica and sorrel. If so, it may be easier to find at a mexican or caribbean grocer for those who can't find it at an indian one.

Any thoughts?

[ktani]

Welcome to LHC.

Yes, hibiscus and sorrel are the same species, also known as Roselle. (http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/118732316/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0)

The Wiki article has improved on this (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roselle_(plant)) from the last time I read about it there.

[loyaboya]

This is so exciting to me! I can't wait to pick some up. The only problem will be deciding what to mix it with: shikakai or rum and ginger? Yum! :D

[mira-chan]

Do note, that sorrel is also an edible sour leaf plant that looks somewhat similar to spinach. I doubt they'd be mistaken in person but online without pictures, it's something to note.

[ktani]

Do note, that sorrel is also an edible sour leaf plant that looks somewhat similar to spinach. I doubt they'd be mistaken in person but online without pictures, it's something to note.

True, that is common sorrel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorrel), a completely different plant.

The hibiscus sorrel is also called Jamaican Sorrel and Indian Sorrel (http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rastaseed.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/rosella_sorrel.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rastaseed.com/%3Fp%3D75&usg=__dRXLRQoPbflnLhjdqcfwOqmqdEc=&h=547&w=410&sz=55&hl=en&start=1&sig2=VRviX1lUljp1s7J1ulL8jw&um=1&tbnid=ZK_NYu9wn9HYbM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=100&prev=/images%3Fq%3Djamaican%2Bsorrel%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1 W1GZAZ_en%26sa%3DX%26um%3D1&ei=JJFnSpYgkdCUB8yc0fkK). That is how plants names get confused, lol, common use.

[loyaboya]

One more question- has anyone noticed a difference between using the calyces vs the petals in hair treatments? Looks like the calyces are sold for use as tea but I'm seeing some other sites that specifically mention using the petals for hair (like this one for example http://www.naturalcosmeticsupplies.com/hibiscus-flower.html ).

I know it's not uncommon for certain parts of the same plant to be more edible than others, but I wonder if different parts can be better for hair?

[loyaboya]

okay, now that I've looked more closely, it seems that these are two different varieties of hibiscus.

Hibiscus rosa-sinesis is used in ayurvedic medicine
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_rosa-sinensis

Hibiscus sabdariffa is the one for drinks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roselle_%28plant%29

Has anyone tried them both?

[Pierre]

Then there's wood sorrel, which is unrelated to sorrel and Jamaican sorrel. Wood sorrel is a small plant that looks like clover, until it blooms. The wood sorrel flower is single and symmetrical and has five petals. The clover flowers are borne in a ball-shaped inflorescence and look like tiny pea flowers, but longer and thinner.

Lojban has a single word "xruba" which means sorrel, rhubarb, or buckwheat. All those are in the same family. Wood sorrel isn't.

[mira-chan]

One more question- has anyone noticed a difference between using the calyces vs the petals in hair treatments? Looks like the calyces are sold for use as tea but I'm seeing some other sites that specifically mention using the petals for hair (like this one for example http://www.naturalcosmeticsupplies.com/hibiscus-flower.html ).

I know it's not uncommon for certain parts of the same plant to be more edible than others, but I wonder if different parts can be better for hair?
The flowers are more conditioning. The leaves (and possibly calyces) when ground up fresh, are used as shampoo in Kerala. I've tried it and it worked well. I have naturally dry hair, but I oil it, and the hair turned out fine.

[Amatullah]

Yep, sorrel is what we call hibiscus in the Caribbean. (I'm from there.) We make drinks with it.

[hybrise]

Fwiw, you can also eat the petals of wood sorrel, provided you positively absolutely know what it is. You know you don't want to make a mistake and end up sick. They're sweet but a little tart, sort of like the candies. They grow all over here in the summer and I nibble on them while I drink lemonade.

[halo_tightens]

I eat wild wood sorrel all the time! The plants I find around here are extremely tart, though, like very sour candies. As a matter of fact, I just found a lovely big bunch of it growing outside my workplace this morning! :)

Okay, hijack over. :o

[melikai]

LOL I'm so confused. :p :(

[tiare_petal]

Where are the LHC's gardeners? :wacko: :D

[tiare_petal]

Hennausa.com says their jaswand/red hibiscus powder makes hair darker (burgundy/black cherry?) http://www.usahenna.com/hesh_herbal_brahmi_powder.php
and if you search "jaswand", google spits out images of flowers resembling rosa-chinensis.
Have any of you tried this one?

[C_Bookworm]

Mexican grocery stores usually carry jamaica. It usually is in flower form still and in little plasic baggies.

I use it for cooking, but I'm curious about using it for hair. Can you tell me more about your routine?

[Tapioca]

I can find hibiscus flowers in the Mexican aisle at the regular grocery store (Ralph's and Stater Bros. out here). I've never used it on my hair, but I love it as jamaica! Iced and sweet in the summertime... yum.

[Spiffyhink]

I agree that jamaica is quite yummy as a tea when it's iced. I'd also be interested in its use as a hair treatment, but it sounds like you can only use the leaves? The site says it's basically prepared as a tea and then added to oil, but has anyone here ever tried this?