What to do with Roselle pods?

[mzgarden]

First time I've grown Roselle and I'm just starting to harvest a few calyx.  The red leaves make a lovely drink -- what to do with the round seed pods in the center of the calyx?  I will leave some on the plant to mature and save seeds but I will have a bunch and want to use them for something?

[mogal]

Mzgarden, I remember reading somewhere that if you cooked the pods and calyxes together, it would help make a gel similar to cranberry sauce. Roselle is called "Florida cranberry." The only problem I could see with that was the difficulty in separating them to make a smoother product. I never saw anything about their being edible or even pleasant to eat. After I had separated the calyxes from the pods though and had enough seed for this year, I composted mine as I haven't found another use for them.

Glad you got a crop. I'm still waiting for mine to start blooming and the season is drawing to an end for us!

[mogal]

I finally am getting some roselle! I don't know why it didn't click before but I remember reading that the calyxes are ready about 10 days after the petals fall off. I finally realized that as the calyxes ripen they lose the greenish yellow flecks for an entirely deep red color but before they split open to expose the seed pod itself. Sorry I didn't remember this sooner.

[mogal]

Some days I need a keeper.

Mzgarden, have you noticed that there are buds for more blooms in the leaf axils below the first flower? The first year I grew roselle, I bet I destroyed a lot of my crop by breaking off the first flower rather than carefully cutting it right below the seed pod. Now I use a somewhat narrow pair of clippers so I don't damage the developing buds and it's making a difference.

[mzgarden]

mogal, I never noticed. When it's light in the morning, I'll go out and take a look. I had planned to harvest a few more tomorrow, so it's good timing.