In brief
- Karkadé is a hot infusion of dried hibiscus flowers, served like a herbal tea.
- Origin: Egypt and Sudan, North Africa.
- Essential ingredients: dried hibiscus flowers, water, sugar.
- An everyday hot drink, unlike Senegalese bissap, which is usually served cold.
Origins and cultural history of karkadé
Karkadé is the infusion of dried hibiscus calyces, Hibiscus sabdariffa, prepared in Egypt and Sudan. Unlike Senegalese bissap, which is sweetened, served well chilled and flavoured with mint, karkadé is traditionally drunk hot, like a herbal tea. The same flower gives, depending on the country, Nigerian zobo, served iced and flavoured with ginger and pineapple, or Jamaican sorrel, spiced for the end-of-year festivities.
Once dried, the calyces take on a deep red colour and keep for several months away from light and moisture.
What are the essential ingredients of karkadé
Karkadé is made with a few simple ingredients, infused and then sweetened to taste.
- dried hibiscus flowers (calyces)
- water
- sugar or another sweetener
- ice cubes or cold water, for a warm or chilled version
What to know about the karkadé
Karkadé is a hot infusion of dried hibiscus flowers (the calyces of Hibiscus sabdariffa), prepared in Egypt and Sudan. It is traditionally drunk like a herbal tea, sweetened to taste, whereas Senegalese bissap is served ice cold, with mint. The dried calyces, dark red, keep for several months in a dry, dark place. The same flower gives zobo in Nigeria, served iced with ginger and pineapple, and the Jamaican sorrel of the end-of-year celebrations.
Frequently asked questions about karkadé
Does karkadé contain caffeine?
No. Karkadé is made from the dried calyx of the hibiscus flower, not from a leaf of the tea plant: it therefore contains no caffeine, unlike a black or green tea.
What is the difference between karkadé and Senegalese bissap?
Both drinks come from the same flower, Hibiscus sabdariffa. Egyptian and Sudanese karkadé is traditionally drunk hot, like a herbal tea, while Senegalese bissap is usually prepared cold, sweetened and flavoured with mint or orange blossom.
Where to find the ingredients for karkadé in France?
NKOSI sells the dried hibiscus flowers and cane sugar from this recipe and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 69 €.
