Not sure what neck of the woods you live in but here in the Northeast of the U.S. it still feels like winter. This spring has barely gotten above 60 degrees, the trees are still a bit bare for this time of year and I can’t seem to not wear two to three extra layers outside to stay warm. To stay sane I decided to channel the exceptional warmth that is currently happening in Burkina Faso. The landlocked country that is sandwiched next to Mali, Benin, Togo, and Ghana is about 100 degrees Fahrenheit all this week.
If I wanted to cool down from the wonderful sweltering heat (yeah, I said wonderful because right now I could take some of that toastiness) I’d make this fantastic wine-colored drink called Bissap. This super easy Burkinabe drink is made from dried hibiscus flowers. It’s like a refreshing tangy iced tea. You might recognize this drink served at your local Mexican restaurant as Agua de Jamaica.
Beautiful dried hibiscus flowers are boiled and steeped in water until the water is burgundy red. You can have it unsweetened for more of a cranberry juice tartness or add some sugar while it’s still hot so it dissolves completely before it cools down. Either way that it’s devoured you’ll be in for a treat. If you want to fancy it up and make a mocktail sangria of sorts you can add fresh pineapple chunks to your pitcher.
Bissap
1 heaping cup of dried hibiscus flowers
6 cups water
½ cup sugar
In a large saucepan boil water and hibiscus flowers for 6-7 minutes. Feel free to let the flowers steep for a couple of minutes longer if you’d like off the stove. Strain the tea from the flowers into a large pitcher. Pour sugar into the pitcher and stir vigorously to dissolve the granules. Let your tea cool down before you refrigerate it. Serve with a couple of ice cubes and enjoy!
Fun For Thought.
We have a winner for the Detroit Prize Pack! The prize pack includes a toy Weiner Mobile, a tray of baklava from Shatila Bakery (the best Baklava in the country! - the baklava contains nuts), and a gift subscription to Food For Thought.!
Since there were so many folks who entered the contest I’m feeling super generous and would like to name a second winner for a gift subscription to Food For Thought.
Detroit Prize Pack Winner: Marcella Schneiderman
Gift Subscription: Ben Cohen
Marcella I’ll reach out to you to get your address!
This Saturday, May 7th @ 5pm is our 1st Meet + Eat at the Queens Night Market. If you’d like to join in on the fun sign up here! I will be sending out an email with specifics on where we’ll meet on Friday.
Cook. Eat. Repeat.
Natalie 💗✨
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