Hibiscus tea  Hibiscus tea is an herbal tea made as an infusion from crimson or deep magenta-colored calyces (sepals) of the roselle ("Hibiscus sabdariffa") flower. It is consumed both hot and cold. It has a tart, cranberry-like flavor. "Agua de flor de Jamaica", also called "agua de Jamaica" and "rosa de Jamaica", is popular in Mexico, Central America, and parts of South America and the Caribbean. It is one of several common "aguas frescas", which are inexpensive beverages typically made from fresh juices or extracts. Jamaica and other aguas frescas are commonly found in taquerias, or other Mexican restaurants. It is usually prepared by steeping the calyces, along with ginger (in Jamaica), in boiling water, straining the mixture, pressing the calyces (to squeeze all the juice out), adding sugar, sometimes clove, cinnamon and a little white rum (in Jamaica), and stirring. It is served chilled, and in Jamaica this drink is a tradition at Christmas, served with fruit cake or potato pudding. In Panama, both the flowers and the drink are called "saril" (a derivative of the English word "sorrel"). It is prepared by picking and boiling the calyces with chopped ginger, sugar, clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg. It is traditionally drunk around Christmas and Chinese New Year, diverging from Mexico and Central America and much more in line with the Caribbean, due to the strong West Indian influence in Panamanian culture especially in Panama City and most of Panama's Caribbean coast. In the English-speaking Caribbean, the drink, called sorrel, is made from the calyces, and it is considered an integral part of Christmas celebrations. The Caribbean Development Company, a Trinidad and Tobago brewery, produces a "Sorrel Shandy" in which the tea is combined with beer. In American soul-food culture, hibiscus tea is included in a category of "red drinks" associated with West Africa, and is commonly served in soul-food restaurants and at African-American social events. "Karkadé" is served hot or chilled with ice. It is consumed in some parts of North Africa, especially in Egypt and Sudan. In Egypt and Sudan, wedding celebrations are traditionally toasted with a glass of hibiscus tea. On a typical street in central Cairo, many vendors and open-air cafés sell the drink.