Learn How To Make Hibiscus Tea or Agua De Jamaica herbal tea made with dried hibiscus flowers. With this quick and easy recipe, you can enjoy your hibiscus tea hot or make a refreshingly sweet and tart iced tea. It is the perfect alternative to sugary drinks like soda.
I love this hibiscus tea because it’s not only refreshing and hydrating, but it’s also so simple to make. I can brew a big batch and enjoy it for days, and the floral flavor keeps me coming back for more. Plus, it’s a budget-friendly option that beats store-bought drinks every time.
It is always perfect when served with pastries like moist cupcakes, pretzels, and chocolate brownies to complement the hot tea even better with its sweetness.
Dried Hibiscus Flower
Dried hibiscus is the main ingredient of this delicious tea recipe. It is usually made through air-drying, oven-drying, or by using a dehydrator. Some people just buy dried flowers online or at the store.
Drying hibiscus preserves their flavor and color which is why it is always better to use the dried ones.
Is Hibiscus Tea Good?
Hibiscus tea is one of my favorite teas ever so the answer is a big YES! I also love cranberry juice as it has a similar fruity and tart taste. It is what I drink whenever I need to relax and have a calm mood.
But the best thing I love about hibiscus tea is that it is naturally caffeine-free herbal tea. You can enjoy it hot or iced, sweetened or unsweetened. It is an excellent drink for any time of the day or any mood. Give it a try, and you will love it.
Why Is It Called Agua De Jamaica?
The history of Agua de Jamaica is fascinating because I hear it a lot and didn’t know that it has the same name as hibiscus tea.
The origin of this name is Agua de Jamaica, the Spanish name for hibiscus tea, which means “water of Jamaica” in English. The hibiscus flower used for the tea is labeled “flor de jamaica“ in Spanish. This drink is very popular in Mexico and other Latin American countries.
How To Make Hibiscus Tea
This is a complete guide with all the steps to make this delicious and healthy hibiscus tea recipe. You can make your own, just like I do, but you are also free to add more ingredients, like fresh mints or a cinnamon stick.
Kitchen Gadgets Needed:
- Glass Pitcher with Infuser: Use a glass pitcher with an Infuser. This will eliminate the need for any other tool for infusing the juice from the dried hibiscus flowers, making the process easier.
Ingredients Needed:
- Dried Hibiscus Flowers: This is the base of our tea. You can find them in most health food stores near you, Latin markets, or online. Look for bright, deep red flowers for the best quality. You can also buy fresh hibiscus and dry it yourself at home.
- Hot Water: Prepare 1 cup to 3 cups of water to boil for the dried petals of hibiscus flowers.
*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING HOT HIBISCUS TEA
First Step: Prepare Hibiscus Flowers
Prepare the dried hibiscus and boil enough water to infuse the tea later.
Second Step: Crush the Dried Hibiscus
Using a mortar and pestle, gently crush the dried hibiscus to release its flavor even better. Do not crush too much. Gently squeeze their flavor.
Third Step: Prepare the Glass Pitcher
Place the hibiscus onto the infuser or middle of the glass pitcher and add the boiling water. Pour the water a little bit higher so that the pressure of the water will break the dried flowers and extract more juice from them.
Let it steep for 10 minutes and wait for the color and flavor to mix the hibiscus flower and water through the tea infuser. If you don’t have infusing equipment, you can also use a fine mesh strainer to extract the hibiscus juice.
Fourth Step: Cool
After the infusion, remove the hibiscus and enjoy the tea with a squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice, depending on your taste preference.
TIPS AND TRICKS:
- Boiling water: Do not put the dried hibiscus directly into the boiling water. First, bring the water to a boil, then remove it from heat before adding the flowers to steep. This method prevents over-extraction and preserves the flowers’ organic flavors.
- Steeping time: If you want your hibiscus tea to have a milder flavor, steep for a short time, but if you want it stronger, steep for a little longer.
- Reuse hibiscus flowers: After making tea, do not throw out the used flowers. Instead, dry them and use them again to make another batch of tea. You can also add them to smoothies for more flavor and nutrients.
- Sweetener: If you are feeling a little bit extra, you can add some sweetener and other flavors such as simple syrup, stevia powder, agave nectar, or any homemade sweeteners of your choice.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
How To Serve Hibiscus Tea?
To make your hibiscus tea more refreshing and flavorful, you can serve it with sweet treats or a fruit platter with craisins, dried raspberries, chocolate strawberries, and dried blueberries.
Serving it with light snacks is also a good idea, especially when you like afternoon tea. Pair it with low-carb biscuits, crispy tater tots, and keto dumplings.
What Are the Parts of The Hibiscus Tree that Are the Best?
In making hibiscus tea, we use specific parts of the hibiscus tree: the flower and the calyx. Here are some information about these two:
- Flowers: This is the central part used for tea. The flowers are large, colorful, and bloom in various shades. They are picked, dried, and then steeped to make the tea.
- Calyx: The calyx is the cup-like structure at the base of the flower that protects the petals before they bloom. In some hibiscus types, like hibiscus sabdariffa (also known as roselle), the calyx is used for making tea, jams, and other products.
How Do I Store Leftover Hibiscus Tea?
Storing your leftover hibiscus tea is pretty simple, and I make sure that you can still enjoy it later. I usually let the hibiscus drink cool and place the tea in a large mason jar with a tight lid to keep it fresh and prevent it from absorbing other flavors in the fridge. Store the container in the refrigerator, and it should stay fresh for up to a week there.
Yes, you definitely can. I suggest freezing them by placing them into ice cube trays and making hibiscus tea ice cubes, which are perfect for chilling other drinks without diluting them.
More Sugar-Free Drink Recipes
If you want to explore our sugar-free drink recipes more, I will share some of my creations here.
To quench your summer thirst, try cranberry juice, fruit-flavored water, and strawberry smoothie. But if you want a drink you can make daily, I suggest hot chocolate and cold brew coffee every morning or afternoon.
This instant pot mulled wine is the best for parties and Thanksgiving celebrations. You won’t have to buy expensive wines anymore because this will be your new favorite.
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How To Make Hibiscus Tea
Equipment
- 1 Glass Pitcher
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons Hibiscus Flowers Dried
- 4 Cups Water Boiling
Instructions
- Prepare the dried hibiscus and boil enough water to infuse the tea later.
- Using a mortar and pestle, gently crush the dried hibiscus to release its flavor even better. Do not crush too much. Gently squeeze their flavor.
- Place the hibiscus onto the infuser or middle of the glass pitcher and add the boiling water. Pour the water a little bit higher so that the pressure of the water will break the dried flowers and extract more juice from them. Let it steep for 10 minutes and wait for the color and flavor to mix the hibiscus flower and water through the tea infuser. If you don't have infusing equipment, you can also use a fine mesh strainer to extract the hibiscus juice.
- After the infusion, remove the hibiscus and enjoy the tea with a squeeze of lime juice or lemon juice, depending on your taste preference.
Video
Notes
- Boiling water: Do not put the dried hibiscus directly into the boiling water. First, bring the water to a boil, then remove it from heat before adding the flowers to steep. This method prevents over-extraction and preserves the flowers’ organic flavors.
- Steeping time: If you want your hibiscus tea to have a milder flavor, steep for a short time, but if you want it stronger, steep for a little longer.
- Reuse hibiscus flowers: After making tea, do not throw out the used flowers. Instead, dry them and use them again to make another batch of tea. You can also add them to smoothies for more flavor and nutrients.
- Sweetener: If you are feeling a little bit extra, you can add some sweetener and other flavors such as simple syrup, stevia powder, agave nectar, or any homemade sweeteners of your choice.
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.
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