Tamil people, like folks in many other places, use hibiscus flowers in lots of different ways for everyday stuff and special events. Here are some common ways they use hibiscus:

Cooking: Tamil cooks often use hibiscus flowers to give their dishes extra flavor and color. They might put them in salads, sauces, or sprinkle them on top of food. Sometimes, they dry the petals to make teas or drinks that they believe can help keep them healthy.

Medicine: In traditional Tamil medicine, called Siddha, hibiscus is thought to be really good for you. People believe it can help cool you down and treat things like high blood pressure, tummy troubles, and even hair loss. They also use hibiscus oil or extracts on their skin and hair.

Religion and Culture: Hibiscus flowers are important in Tamil religious ceremonies and cultural traditions. They’re often used in temples, during festivals, and in decorations. The red hibiscus flower is especially meaningful and is connected to the goddess Lakshmi, bringing good luck.

Decoration: Hibiscus plants are popular in Tamil Nadu because they’re so pretty. People grow them in gardens and around their homes, and they’re used to brighten up public places too. Women sometimes wear hibiscus flowers in their hair to look special during celebrations and festivals.
Coloring: The petals of hibiscus flowers can be used to dye fabrics. In Tamil Nadu, people sometimes use hibiscus flowers to give clothes a beautiful red or pink color.

Overall, hibiscus is really important in Tamil culture. It’s used for cooking, medicine, religious ceremonies, decorating, and even making clothes colorful. It’s been a big part of Tamil life for a long time!

Hibiscus and Sorrel comparison

Hibiscus and sorrel are related, but they’re not exactly the same.
Hibiscus: Hibiscus is a big group of plants with really pretty, large flowers. There are lots of different kinds of hibiscus flowers, coming in all sorts of colors and shapes. Some hibiscus flowers you can eat, but not all of them.

Sorrel: Sorrel is a special kind of hibiscus called Roselle (scientific name: Hibiscus sabdariffa). People grow it mainly for its fleshy calyces, which are like the outer part of the flower bud. These calyces are used to make a tangy, cranberry-like drink that’s also called sorrel sometimes.