Tropical Hibiscus Tea
I guess it was ten years ago when I found myself in the middle of a winter blizzard in Vermont. Went into a second hand clothing store in a town called Rochester. My eyes were captured by an unbelievably vibrant Hawaiian shirt. The storeowner was kind enough to tell me that the flowers in the shirt's array of orange, peach and red are called Hibiscus. I got a great price for obvious reasons. Promised myself that on the first day of spring, no matter where I was, the shirt would be my uniform for the day. Not only have I kept the promise, but also, every April, I seem to find out a little bit more about this incredibly beautiful tropical flower. In Hawaii, it is called Pua Aloha, and it is the state flower. Last April, I put on my trusty shirt, brewed a cup of Tropical Hibiscus Tea™ and decided it was time to plan a trip to the islands for the coming year. Well, here it is, the night before I fly to the Big Island, and I am packed for the trip. I am flying on the first day of spring, so you know what shirt I'll be wearing. Sitting here in the quiet of the evening, savoring my favorite spiced tea and its luscious accent of Pua Aloha. Can't wait for morning.