• Varyk@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    1 month ago

    no, apparently the petals are much thicker than I thought they were, which is funny because I grew up with them.

    but all of these candied snacks and hibiscus tea and everything calls for the petals.

      • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
        1·
        1 month ago

        “it’s a common misunderstanding.”

        green and pink?

        every source I could find says the pink calyx with the seeds removed is used as candied snacks, not the green part of the stem holding the flower.

        you have the name right, but you’re mixing up your plant parts.

        The green one you’re thinking of is the epicalyx.

        The calyx is a smaller structure inside the epicalyx and outside of the petals holding the petals by the base.

        • cazssiew@lemmy.world
          1·
          1 month ago

          The calyx is red (and the petals are yellow/white) on hibiscus sabdariffa, which is the species they use commercially.

          • Varyk@sh.itjust.works
            1·
            1 month ago

            correct!

            the calyx is the small red “petal holder” inside the green stem leaves called the epicalyx.

            The red part is what is used to make the snacks, not that green outer covering.

            although apparently you can eat every part of the hibiscus plant.

            i’m sure some people do eat the green part also, but those green leaves are not turned into a pink candied hibiscus like in the example pictures I posted.

            I’m going to try dehydrating the entire flower, petals included, to see how that works out.