Autumn is upon us and with it comes the opportunity to design a dinner party worthy of the season. Including fall colors in your decor and centerpieces will bring the essence of autumn into focus. Also, try incorporating something new and unique in your food and drink choices. Port Charlotte Florist suggests trying a recipe with edible flowers for a fresh new culinary experience.

Include a gorgeous display of fall colors on your table that will bring Pure Happiness to your guests. Bursting with sunflowers, deep red roses, and other fall colors, this stunning piece echoes the spirit of the changing seasons. Add a fabulous floral drink to enhance the effect of fall flowers.

This Agua de Jamaica is a light, refreshing drink option that highlights the flavors of hibiscus flowers:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 quarts water
• 3/4 to 1 cup sugar (depending on how sweet you would like it to be)
• 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 1/2 cinnamon stick (optional)
• A few thin slices ginger (optional)
• Allspice berries (optional)
• Lime juice (optional)
• Orange or lime slices for garnish

METHOD

1 Boil water with sugar and spices: Put 4 cups of the water and the sugar in a medium saucepan. Add cinnamon, ginger slices, and/or a few allspice berries if you would like. Heat until boiling and the sugar has dissolved.

2 Steep with dried hibiscus flowers: Remove from heat. Stir in the dried hibiscus flowers. Cover and let sit for 20 minutes.

3 Strain:  Strain into a pitcher and discard the used hibiscus flowers, ginger, cinnamon, and/or allspice berries.

(At this point you can store ahead the concentrate, chilled, until ready to make the drink.)

4 Add water: Add remaining 4 cups of water (or if you want to chill the drink quickly, ice and water) to the concentrate, and chill.

Alternatively you can add ice and chilled soda water for a bubbly version.

Add a little lime juice for a more punch-like flavor.

Serve over ice with a slice of orange or lime.

Talk to the floral designers at Port Charlotte Florist about other ways to bring floral decor and edible flowers together in your next dinner party or fall get-together.