Flowers for Lunch

Jamaica , the word for hibiscus, is a treasure in Mexico not only for the beauty of the blossoms, but also for their deliciously tart flavor. The flowers are available by the kilo in the grocery store or local market, and are typically used to make a drink that is served at home and in restaurants.

Today, our last day in Oaxaca, we lunched with Marga (of the Bench), and I ordered enchiladas of hibiscus flowers with chipotle sauce, (Enchiladas con flor de jamaica y salsa de chipotle,) which was a mildly peppery sauce made with chipotle peppers. The slightly "puckery" hibiscus flowers paired with the chipotles was a taste combination invented by the pleasure gods.