Meet Our Nile River Hibiscus

A brighter, sweeter hibiscus. Our Hibiscus is organically grown and fair trade certified from Egypt’s southeast city of Aswan along the banks of the Nile River. The arid climate and loamy, mineral rich soil lend to the plant's vibrant scarlet color and earthy notes of ripe tropical fruit.

Drought resistant. Native to Africa, Hibiscus is a water-friendly shrub that blooms in the sunny and dry corridors of Egypt where the Nile’s freshwater provides farmers a sustainable source for irrigation. Established hibiscus plants need little water to thrive, and farmers work with the local ecosystem to preserve water and yield more vibrant and flavorful blooms, and the plant’s short growing cycle allows farmers to rotate hibiscus with other crops.

Transparency matters. By vertically integrating each step of growing, processing, and distributing the crop, our sourcing partners are able to ensure transparency along every point of their supply chain. Being able to trace each shipment to its harvest enables the farm to back up claims of sustainability, and for us to maintain the best quality and flavor in our teas.

African origins. The use of hibiscus in teas and infused beverages that travelled from Africa to the Caribbean to the U.S. has its own stained history of forced displacement. The indigenous plant’s cultivation in the Afro-diaspora was the direct result of the European slave trade that brought ships of enslaved Africans to Caribbean shores with hibiscus seeds in tow. Beloved for its dietary benefits, delicious flavor, and cultural significance, hibiscus flowers and their ruby hued beverages hold significance within African foodways and Black celebrations of emancipation.