Hibiscus Tea Recipe

This Hibiscus Tea Recipe (Agua de Jamaica) combines dried hibiscus flowers, a mix of fresh organic berries and water to create a healthy thirst-quenching drink.  Add a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade for a delicious tasting Hibiscus Sweet Tea.  You might want to add this tea to your daily wellness plan, because there’s a lot of hibiscus tea benefits! 

Hibiscus flower tea is an herbal tea that has a slightly tart flavor similar to cranberries. Besides tasting great, there’s a lot of health benefits of hibiscus tea.  Learn how to make hibiscus tea using dried flowers with this easy recipe.

I personally prefer tea over coffee.   I don’t think I’ve ever met a tea that I didn’t like.  Hot or iced – I love tea.  This hibiscus tea is great hot or cold, but I personally love it chilled.  Tall glass.  Lots of ice.  A straw.  And a tall pitcher in the refrigerator for refills! Hibiscus has a slightly tart fruity flavor, similar to cranberry, so you might want to add a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade to mellow the tartness a bit. Just a word of caution, because this tea is made with dried flowers, it can stain.  So be careful of splashes and spills.

What is Agua de Jamaica?

Agua de Jamaica is another name for hibiscus tea, which is made from an infusion of dried hibiscus flower, fruit, cinnamon, seasoning and water.

Where Can You Buy Dried Hibiscus Flowers?

You should be able to find the loose dried hibiscus flowers either in the bulk section or packaged tea section at your local health food store.  

Hibiscus Tea Recipe

• Water
• Dried hibiscus flowers
• Fresh berries (mix of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry) (optional)
• Mint leaves for garnish, if desired
• Sweeten with honey or a splash of lemonade to make Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Variation

• Add a cinnamon stick to boiling water when you steep hot tea.  It makes it taste like Christmas!

How to Make Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea (Agua de Jamaica) is easy to make and can be served hot or cold. It can be steeped in boiling water or cold brewed.

1. Boil water. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Steep. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the dried flowers. Let steep for about 20 minutes.
3. Strain. Strain tea into a glass pitcher. Discard dried flowers. Add remaining 4 cups of water and chill.
4. Serve. Garnish with mint leaves and serve over ice. Sweeten with a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade to make Hibiscus Sweet Tea.
5. Refrigerate. Drink hot or keep Agua de Jamaica chilled in the refrigerator.

To make cold brewed tea:

1. Mix water, flowers and berries. Combine the water, dried hibiscus flowers and berries in a pitcher or lidded jar.
2. Steep. Place in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.  Steep longer (up to 12 hours) for a deeper tasting tea.
3. Strain. Strain into a second pitcher.  
4. Serve. Garnish with mint leaves and serve over ice. Sweeten with a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade to make Hibiscus Sweet Tea.
5. Refrigerate. Keep Agua de Jamaica chilled in the refrigerator.

If the tea is too strong, just dilute with a little more water.  For individual serving – bring 1 cup of water to a simmer and pour over 1 tablespoon of leaves in a strainer placed over a mug. Let steep, then strain and enjoy as a hot tea, or cool to room temperature then pour into a glass and serve over ice.

How to Cold Brew Tea 

Make your favorite cold brew iced tea with your favorite tea.

1. Add 10 teabags or 5 tablespoons tea leaves (loose tea) to a pitcher.
2. Pour 6-8 cups of water over the tea.  
3. Chill in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.  Steep longer (up to 12 hours) for a deeper tasting tea.
4. To make fruit infused tea just add lemon, lime, berries or any fruit you like while the tea chills in the refrigerator.

If the tea is too strong, just dilute it with more water.

Does Hibiscus Tea Have Caffeine?

Nope. This tea is naturally caffeine-free.

Is Hibiscus Tea Good For You?

You may be wondering what is hibiscus tea good for? Hibiscus, also known as Hibiscus sabariffa, is a flower rich with phytonutrients and antioxidants.  There are a lot of hibiscus tea benefits making it worthy of your attention.  

• Loaded with vitamin C
• Rich with antioxidants and polyphenols
• Anti-inflammatory properties
• Acts as a natural diuretic
• May lower blood pressure 
• Potentially elevates HDL cholesterol (the good kind) 
• May help to regulate blood sugar levels

Hibiscus Tea Blood Pressure

Hibiscus tea gets its bright color from a polyphenol called anthocyanins.  Polyphenols act as antioxidants by protecting cells against damage caused by free radicals.  Polyphenols help to lower inflammation and aids in the prevention of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and it may have a role in the prevention of diabetes mellitus. 

The use of hibiscus tea for blood pressure is widespread across the world as a treatment for hypertension and hyperlipidemia.  According to some studies, daily consumption of hibiscus tea decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (however, evidence from controlled trials have not been conclusive), and consuming hibiscus tea may also increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind). (1) 

Looking for More Iced Tea Recipes to Make?

• Arnold Palmer Drink
• Antioxidant Rich Blueberry Green Tea
• Fruit Infused Turmeric Tea
• Iced Orange Ginger Green Tea

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Yield: 4 servings

Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)

Prep Time 5 minutes

Additional Time 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours 5 minutes

This Hibiscus Tea Recipe (Agua de Jamaica) combines dried hibiscus flowers, a mix of fresh organic berries and water to create a healthy thirst-quenching drink.  Add a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade for a delicious tasting Hibiscus Sweet Tea. 

Ingredients

• 8 cups of water  (filtered or spring)
• 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers
• 2 cups fresh berries (mix of raspberry, blueberry and blackberry)
• mint leaves for garnish, if desired
• sweeten with honey, if desired

Instructions

1. Combine the water, dried hibiscus flowers and berries in a pitcher or lidded jar.
2. Place in the refrigerator for 4-8 hours.  Steep longer (up to 12 hours) for a deeper tasting tea.
3. Strain into a second pitcher.  Sweeten with raw honey (if desired).
4. Garnish with mint leaves.
5. Serve over ice.
6. Keep refrigerated.

Notes

Hibiscus tea (Agua de Jamaica) is easy to make and can be served hot or cold. It can be steeped in boiling water or cold brewed.

1. Boil water. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan.
2. Steep. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in the dried flowers. Let steep for about 20 minutes.
3. Strain. Strain tea into a glass pitcher. Discard dried flowers. Add remaining 4 cups of water and chill.
4. Serve. Garnish with mint leaves and serve over ice. Sweeten with a drizzle of honey or a splash of lemonade to make Hibiscus Sweet Tea.
5. Refrigerate. Drink hot or keep Agua de Jamaica chilled in the refrigerator.

If the tea is too strong, just dilute with a little more water.  For individual serving – bring 1 cup of water to a simmer and pour over 1 tablespoon of leaves in a strainer placed over a mug. Let steep, then strain and enjoy as a hot tea, or cool to room temperature then pour into a glass and serve over ice.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 50Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 21mgCarbohydrates: 12gFiber: 3gSugar: 9gProtein: 1g

theharvestkitchen.com attempts to provide accurate information, however, this nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. The nutritional information provided comes from online sources and calculations.