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Roselle leaves

Roselle leaves are tart edible leaves used fresh or cooked in soups, stews, salads, and sauces.

Roselle leaves — illustrative ingredient image

About Roselle leaves

Roselle leaves are the edible green leaves of roselle plants, used as a distinct leafy ingredient rather than as the dried calyces commonly used for tart infusions. They are used raw or cooked in soups, stews, sauces, relishes, and vegetable dishes.

Their flavor is noticeably tart and vegetal. Young raw leaves contribute a sharper, fresher bite, while cooking softens their texture and spreads their acidity through the dish. They may be combined with other greens or souring ingredients.

Roselle leaves are typically sold fresh, whole, chopped, or bundled. They have lobed or toothed shapes and a green to reddish-green appearance depending on cultivar and maturity. The comparison should distinguish leaves from stems, calyces, and other plant parts.

Ingredient type
whole food

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Where roselle leaves appears

1 linked foods

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Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.

Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.

Local names for roselle leaves

Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.

English

roselle leaves

Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.

Roselle leaves nutrition & diet

Roselle leaves nutritional value

Hibiscus, leaves, fresh, raw — WAFCT 04_016

Per 100 g of the edible portion in the named food form.

Calories
40kcal
Protein
2.7g
Carbs
4.5g
Fat
0.3g

Per 100 g edible portion. Source: Vincent et al., FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019). Carbohydrate is available carbohydrate calculated by difference; square-bracketed fat in the source uses continuous-extraction analysis. Values describe this reference form, not every recipe, cultivar or preparation.

Portions & preparation

Confirm the plant identity and use the edible roselle leaves, distinguishing young leaves from mature leaves and fresh from cooked or dried forms. Washing, trimming, and cooking method affect the recorded portion. Soups, sauces, oils, salt, and other ingredients should be matched to the finished recipe.

Compare the right form: Reference identified roselle leaves in the actual fresh, cooked, or dried form, specifying leaf portion, stems, and any soup or sauce ingredients.

Diet considerations

Roselle leaves are plant-derived, but local species and preparation should be established rather than inferred. Plain leaves differ from soups, stews, sauces, and pickles containing animal stock, dairy, oil, sweeteners, or cereal thickeners. These additions change compatibility and the portion-dependent carbohydrate pattern of the complete dish.

AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.

Dietary compatibility

  • Vegan
    Typically compatible
  • Vegetarian
    Typically compatible
  • Pescatarian
    Typically compatible
  • Keto
    Depends on the version
  • Paleo
    Typically compatible
  • Low-carb
    Depends on the version
  • Halal
    Not established
  • Kosher
    Not established
What these diet assessments mean
Vegan · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Vegetarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Pescatarian · Typically compatible
The plain ingredient profile is plant, fungal or mineral based. Added ingredients in a prepared product need a separate check.
Keto · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Paleo · Typically compatible
The plain form fits the conventional paleo food groups. Added ingredients and individual interpretations can differ.
Low-carb · Depends on the version
Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
Halal · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
Kosher · Not established
Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.

For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.

Reviewed ingredient entryIngredient reference · Preparations vary

AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.

Sources & review

Nutrition reference: FAO/INFOODS Food Composition Table for Western Africa (2019) — 04_016 ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.

Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.

The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.

Last recorded verification: .