Organic Hibiscus Flowers (Certified Fairtrade)

Our organic dried hibiscus flowers are imported in small batches from a fairtrade certified cooperative in Burkina Faso. Grown on small plots by dozens of producers, they are sold to a few privileged customers.

Also known as Guinea sorrel or hibiscus roselle, the flower is consumed as an infusion in several countries such as Egypt (carcadé), Jamaica (agua fresca) and throughout West Africa (bissap).

Among the many varieties of hibiscus, only "hibiscus sabdariffa" is consumed, generally in the form of herbal tea.

Its tangy flavor is reminiscent of cranberries, so it is often prepared with sugar in a herbal tea. You can replace the sugar with a sweet fruit juice such as pineapple, peach or mango.

Burkinabé Bissap (Hibiscus Iced Tea) Recipe:

1. Ingredients (Yields 2 Litres):
• 2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
• 1 1⁄2 cup cane sugar (more or less to taste)
• 1 small stem of fresh mint
• 1 teaspoon orange flower water
2. Rinse the dried hibiscus flowers in cold water.
3. Boil 2 litres of water.
4. Steep the dried hibiscus flowers in the boiled water for 10 minutes.
5. Pour the steeped tea into a pitcher using a strainer to separate the flowers from the water.
6. Stir in the cane sugar, mint and orange flower water.
7. Serve ice cold.

What does Fairtrade certification mean?

• Fairtrade products are far more than just fair prices, they create sustainable impact in three interconnected areas: economic, social, and environmental. These are known as the three pillars of sustainability:
• Economic: Fairtrade sets economic Standards for farmers and workers to benefit from income security and financial independence. These include the Fairtrade Minimum Price for most commodities, which aims to provide producers with a safety net against falling prices, along with the Fairtrade Premium that provides producers with additional money to invest as they choose. Fairtrade also emphasizes long-term partnerships that help yield sustainable and decent livelihoods.
• Environmental: Environmental criteria emphasize ecologically and agriculturally sound practices, including responsible water and waste management, preserving biodiversity and soil fertility, minimal use of pesticides, and the prohibition of the use of GMOs. Organic production is promoted and rewarded by higher Fairtrade Minimum Prices for organically grown products.
• Social: Social criteria for small-scale producers include requirements on democratic self-organization, participatory decision-making, transparency, and non-discrimination. For hired labour, our Standards require non-discriminatory employment practices, fair pay, freedom of association, and safeguards for worker health and safety. Forced labour and child labour are prohibited under the Fairtrade Standards.

Who is the Coopake cooperative?

• Located in Orodara, a small urban community nestled in the heart of orchards in western Burkina Faso, the Coopake cooperative was founded in 1963. Today, it spans 800 hectares of orchards and farmland, cultivating and processing mangoes, cashew nuts, sesame, citrus fruits, hibiscus, and shea.
• Coopake's primary goal is to value local resources while preserving the environment and providing employment for hundreds of families.
• The cooperative boasts hundreds of members, agricultural producers who have come together to process and enhance their production, enabling the local community to thrive in one of the world's poorest countries. Today, Coopake owns two processing units that employ nearly 300 people.
• Certified organic for nearly twenty years, the cooperative and its members practice no intensive farming. Instead, they garden and maintain sesame plots interspersed with shea trees, mango trees, cashew trees, and hibiscus plants.
• Coopake, a social economy enterprise, is an indispensable pillar in this community far from major urban centers. In addition to fair wages for producers and good working conditions for employees, the cooperative invests in the socio-economic development of its community through Fairtrade premiums. They develop programs focused on the needs of the population, particularly the most disadvantaged: access to drinking water, food donations, and financial support for the polio victims' association.