Hibiscus Iced Tea

In bloom, hibiscus flowers are audaciously vibrant, the bright explosion of red reproduced on so many Hawaiian shirts. Dried, they have an intensely earthy flavor, a tannic texture, and a dark blood-red color. This makes them ideal ingredients for a richly flavored iced tea, which happens to look beautiful in a glass pitcher when the sun is shining through it. Of course, if you prefer, you can also drink the tea hot or spiked with your alcohol of choice.