Roselle

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa Linn.) is a tropical plant widely cultivated in Thailand. Roselle produces red edible calyxes which primarily can be used for making brilliant red color jam, jelly preserve juice. Since early 1970s, Roselle has recieved great considerable attention as a potential source of natural food colorant, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Currently roselle is also claimed as a Thai traditional medecine for kidney stones and can be used as antibacterial and antifungal substances.

Roselle, contains one of the highest content of Vitamin C - estimated at 280mg every 100gm of dried calyx of roselle. It's not only vitamin C, it also contains other essential vitamins such as Vitamin D, B1 & B2.

Other than the usual vitamins, it contains nearly 486mg of Calcium, substantial amount of Magnesium, Beta-Carotene, OMEGA-3, Essential Amines, and lots of other useful phyto-resources.

It is thought that the antioxidant chemicals, such as flavonoids, polyphenolics and anthocyanins, contained in the flower play a large role in preventing the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (the “bad cholesterol”). This oxidation is what contributes to atherosclerosis, the build up of a waxy plaque on the walls of arteries.