Egyptian Hibiscus

Egyptian hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) from Aswan is bought above all for colour. The dried calyces deliver the deep red infusion that beverage manufacturers, tea blenders and natural-colour formulators are paying for, and the anthocyanin pigments responsible are the reason the rest of the specification exists.

We supply hibiscus as whole flower and as powder. Whole calyces hold colour longer in storage and are specified where the consumer sees the material; ground and cut material extracts faster and suits tea bags, industrial extraction and blending. Aswan's high temperatures and intense solar radiation through the growing and drying season suit the crop, and rapid drying is what protects the pigment.

Applications include herbal infusions and iced beverages, the traditional karkadé drink across the Middle East and North Africa, natural colour extraction, and food-supplement manufacture. Acidity matters in beverage applications because it governs both the sour profile and how the pigment presents in the finished drink, so buyers whose product depends on it should state it in the specification.

Because anthocyanins degrade with heat, light, oxygen and time, a colour value describes the material on the date of analysis. We report per-lot results on the certificate of analysis rather than promising a fixed figure in advance. Specifications are available upon request and can be tailored to buyer requirements. FOB Alexandria, full export documentation, packing discussed per order.