Can anyone identify this MYSTERY MEXICAN HERB???

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I'm one of those people who like to try new things. I've seen these at my local flea market for years. I finally decided to try it. According to the girl, who's English wasn't too good, and my Spanish is rough from years of not using it, you are supposed to boil this for 10 minutes, then add sugar and drink it as you would tea.
Can anyone identify this?
How do YOU prepare it?
What other uses does it have?
Thanks!

And here is some boiling on my stove.

 

[GoodFairies]

I don't think it's an herb; I think it's a flower. It looks like dried hibiscus.

 

[Vixen]

Its called Flor de Jamaica ! An yeah its really good
you boil it and you can drink hot or cold if you like, I love it cold just add sugar
Some say if you drink it with no sugar its suppose to make you loose weight I just drink it cuz its good refreshing and it makes my stomach feel good!

 

[JessicaR]

dried flor de jamaica (hibiscus flower calyces) Pretty!

Its flowers are often dried and boiled in sugar water to make a syrup that's used in drinks, jams, and even Red Zinger tea.

AGUA DE JAMAICA

2 cups (about 2 ounces) dried flor de jamaica (hibiscus flower calyces)
3/4 to 1 cup granulated cane sugar
8 cups water

agua fresca de jamaica
Bring 8 cups of water to a boil in a non-corrosive pot and add the flowers and the sugar. Stir to wet all the flowers and dissolve the sugar, and allow to boil for 3-5 minutes undisturbed.

Remove from heat, stir, and allow to steep and cool to room temperature for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Using a sieve over a pitcher, pour the liquid (with the flowers still in it) through the sieve to filter the flowers out. The flowers will have plumped up during rehydration. Press them against the sieve with your fingers or a spoon to extract any extra juice left inside.

Refrigerate. Yields about 6 cups of concentrated juice. When serving, cut with 50 percent water to dilute.

More Recipes.
http://www.ecurry.com/blog/drinks-cocktails/flor-de-jamaica-beverage/

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

WOW! This stuff is enjoyed by basically everyone across the world. Each country has a different name for it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hibiscus_tea

 

[Briarmom]

We drank Hibiscus tea in Egypt all the time! They called it Karkadeh (made up English spelling ). I miss it!

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

I miss it!

If you have a local farmers market or a local tienda you can probably get as much as you want of it!
UPDATE:
I LOVE this stuff!!! Unfortunately, my wife and son aren't as crazy about it, so It wont be a regular thing at our home. I may buy it time to time just for myself. I think it's actually REALLY good! Glad i tried it!

 

[spacemermaid]

It's flor de jamaica, and there's always some in hot tea or cold drink form in my house! We're addicted to it

(I thought this was going to be a difficult question!)

 

[HunnyPots]

I have a hibiscus shrub on my patio and my dogs are constantly plucking off the blooms and eating them, so I figure they must be very tasty. If they'd ever leave any I might try drying some for tea.