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Roselle
 Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) in Malaysia is mostly
planted commercially by the smallholders in Terengganu on the Bris
soils. The planting has later been extended to some areas in Johor.
Roselle is also known as sorrel, red sorrel, Florida cranberry, rosella
and Indian sorrel. The most important edible part is the fleshy sepal
(calyx), which is intense red in color with an acidic taste.
The
calyx is the part that is left over after the bloom, which is processed
to produce juice for drinking. It is very high in vitamin C (ascorbic
acid). Every 100 gm of fresh calyx will contain about 2.85 µg vitamin
D, 0.04 mg vitamin B1, 0.06 mg vitamin B2, and 0.05 mg vitamin B2
Complex.
The calyx can also be processed to make jam and jelly.
The leaves and young stems are edible and used in salads or cooked as a
vegetable. Roselle is a tropical annual plant from the family Malvaceae
similar to our national flower and said to be native to West Africa.
The plant is small in size like shrubs and can grow to a height of
about 2m with lobed reddish leaves.
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Eric Simon - Planting Happiness
 As we approached the house of the personality we feature in
this issue of Garden Asia, we were greeted by a riot of colours
representing a widely varied collection of large potted bougainvilleas.
The next moment, Eric Simon stepped out excitedly welcoming us to his
home.
With his pleasant smile and warm greetings one cannot help but like him
at first sight! In fact, everything about him exudes enthusiasm and
energy. Eric is a man who lives up to his mottos - “ All things grow
with love” and “He who plants a garden, plants happiness”.
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An Urban Forest Park
 A young gardener wrote in about a gem in our midst,
which many of us, even those living around the corner, do not know
about. It is an urban forest, an enclave left behind when developments
were done. The area has been gazetted as a protected urban forest and
the residence in the area has realized how fortunate they are to have
such a valuable green lung for their highly developed area.
The
most important fact is the forest is still a virgin forest with
biodiversity that could give benefits to research in the country.
Students from the various universities and research institutes in the
city can do studies without having to go far out.
Most
importantly we have to protect it from further encroachment by
development!Imagine a potential world famous park, much bigger than
Hyde Park, a mere 350 acres space in London and slightly bigger than
Central Park in New York at 843 acres – in our own beloved country at
857 acres. A park with a wealth of flora and fauna. A park consisting
of majestic forest trees, herbaceous plants, ferns and fungi, lichens
and mosses. A park with inhabitants of birds, reptiles, mammals and
insects.
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Roselle Almond Cup Cakes
 Ingredients
6 egg whites
185 g butter
125 ground almonds
240 g sifted icing sugar
75 g plain flour
1 cup Roselle paste
Cinnamon sugar for dusting
( 1/4 cup castor sugar plus 1 tsp cinnamon powder )
1 tsp vanilla essence
Method
1. Preheat oven to moderately hot ( 200°C ).
2. Grease some muffin tins with melted margarine.
3. Place the egg white in a mixing bowl. Whisk lightly until combined.
4. Add in butter, ground almond, icing sugar and flour.
Stir until well blended.
5. Divide cake mixture among prepared tins, filling half of the tin.
Place 1/2 tsp of the Roselle paste and then top again with the rest of
the cake mixture.
6. Bake in the oven for about 20 minutes. Cool on wire rack.
7. Serve dusted with cinnamon sugar and top with Roselle flowers.
Serve
12
Preparation Time
15 mins.
Cooking Times
20 mins.
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Art from Roselle
 The dried roselle calyx is quite versatile as it is not
only an ingredient in food preparation, but also used for art and
craft. The Malays dry the roselle calyx and use it to create flower
bouquets and arrangements for decorations and wedding gifts.
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