Hibiscus Iced Tea
Agua de Jamaica which translates as “hibiscus water” is a typical agua fresca to accompany the mid-day meal in Mexico. It is sweet, tart, delicious and really a refreshing drink all at the same time.
You prepare it by steeping hibiscus flowers, called flor de jamaica to produce a concentrate that you dilute with water and sweeten with sugar. Jamaica is a great alternative to soda. You can find hibiscus flowers at your local grocery store or order online. Mexgrocer is a good option.
Sweet or Tart?
Mexicans tend to prefer their agua de jamaica very sweet. If you add the full ½ cup of sugar called for in the recipe to make a pitcher of jamaica it will be sweet like served in Mexico. We prefer it on the tart side. If you prefer it on the tart side only add ¼ cup of sugar per picture.
How to Make Agua de Jamaica Drink (Iced Hibiscus Tea)
It’s really quite simple to prepare. Follow these steps.
Dried Hibiscus Flowers Called “Flor de Jamaica.”
- Start with two cups of hibiscus flowers (jamaica). Fresh flowers produce the best tasting drink. If the flowers are pliable they are fresh. If they are hard and brittle they aren’t fresh and your jamaica won’t be as tasty.
- Add the hibiscus flowers to 2 quarts of water. Be sure you add the flowers to cold water. This makes a difference.
- Bring the water to a boil and as soon as it boils reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes turn off the heat and allow the concentrate to cool.
- As the flowers steep they absorb water and will sink to the bottom of the pot. That’s how you will know that the concentrate is ready to use.
- Pour the concentrate through a strainer to remove the flowers.
Pour the concentrate into a small pitcher or jar to store. You started the process with 2 quarts of water but after steeping the hibiscus you will only have 1 ½ quarts of concentrate. The flowers absorb quite a bit of water.
A glass pitcher or jar is preferable for storage. Plastic containers seem to give it an off-taste. Also, the concentrate tends to stain plastic.
Drink Preparation
- To prepare the drink, pour ⅓ of the concentrate into a ½ gallon pitcher.
- Add the sugar and water to fill the pitcher. Stir vigorously to dissolve the sugar.
- Serve over ice or well chilled.
Salud!
Agua de Jamaica Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
- 2 quarts water
- ½ cup sugar per pitcher of jamaica
Instructions
- HIBISCUS CONCENTRATE
- Put 2 quarts of water in a pot
- Add 2 cups of dried hibiscus flowers to the water
- Bring to a boil
- As soon as the water boils reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes
- After 10 minutes turn off the heat and allow the hibiscus concentrate to cool
- PITCHER OF JAMAICA
- Put ⅓ of the concentrate in a half-gallon pitcher and add the sugar
- Fill the pitcher with cool water and stir vigorously to dissolve the water
- Serve chilled or over ice
Notes
- Add I cinnamon stick to the water when steeping.
- Instead of sugar, you can sweeten your drink with piloncillo or agave syrup.
- The concentrate will keep for 5 days in the refrigerator.
- Store in a sealed container so that it doesn’t take on flavors for other foods in the fridge.
Amilia says
Are you able to reuse the flowers a couple of more times after the first batch is made?
Thanks!
Douglas Cullen says
Most of the flavor is extracted in the first batch so any following batches will be pretty weak. You might want to give it a try though to see if there is enough flavor for you. Cheers!
Blanca says
Can u use flowers again after one boiling?
Douglas Cullen says
If you use the jamaica flowers again a second time they won’t have much flavor. You can give it a try to see if there is enough flavor for you.
Gelbert says
Ok
Oscar says
I learned a trick where you just soak it in warm sink water and brew it in a jug with the water from the sink till it gets the red color. I use to boil the flower and it would take the real flavor away
Douglas Cullen says
I’ll have to give this method a try. Sounds good!
Mike-n-Jana says
I cold brew the 1st one then hot brew the second yime and then let yhe second batch set in the fridge a couple days cold brewing whike we enjoy the 1st one. Yes sometimes one is stronger then the other, we sweeting with hibiscus syrup and sugar… peace
Yvette Marie Charles says
I tried it and love it
Jorden says
I was taught to make it using cold water and letting the flowers soak for a couple of hours. Does this affect the flavor? I was told that it is healthier if you don’t boil the flowers.
Laura H-S says
This sounds exactly like the wonderful jamaica water I had in a local restaurant. If the concentrate only keeps three days in the fridge, can it be frozen? I don’t think I can drink it all up in 3 days.
Professor Lisa says
I was introduced to Jamaica tea in our favorite TexMex restaraunt. I would rather have it than a margarita! Our favorite waitress told me how to make it, and it is similar to this recipe. Then, one of my students got the flowers for me at one of our farmer’s markets. It was a gallon sized bag for about $6!!! I have it on the stove cooling down now. I am so excited to have this today!!!!
J says
My Abuela told me to boil the water, as soon as it’s boiling turn it off put the flowers into the water cover and immediately refrigerate. Also we don’t use sugar when making small batches for the family we just let everyone sweeten their own with the little agave syrup however when making a bigger batch for those who aren’t as familiar with the tart flavor sugar might be a good idea.
nylse says
This is what Jamaicans call sorrel – a beverage that usually served at Christmas. We flavor it with ginger, spices and rum. So good!
Omar says
How come you didn’t add lime?
Ugwu Chidera says
Greetings, my name is Chidera Ugwu. My company is duly registered in Nigeria since 2017. We supply high quality hibiscus, Ginger, turmeric, Garlic, pepper, spices, bitter kola, kola nut, honey etc for the production of the best herbal tea. We have clients across Europe,Asia, US and Africa. We can send you samples to examine if you are interested.
Expecting to hear from you soon. Regards
Mirta says
What are the benefits of this water
R. says
Well to start off with. It is Refreshing, Tasty, All Natural, And it can help you to “relax”, by helping with your blood pressure. It lowers blood pressure. It also has Vitamin C and other Anti oxidents. Nice icy cold on a hot day, and washing down food nicely, espeicaly some Mexican Food.
Norm says
How do you get rid of the grit that comes with the dried hibiscus? If I clean the flowers then I lose some of the flavor and color. Can I use cheesecloth to strain the liquid through?
Jude says
Whether you get grit or not with your flowers depend on the supplier. I’ve used hibiscus flowers off and on for years. The second last package of dried hibiscus came from Mexico. The tea was terrible with the amount of grit in it and I ended up throwing them away. I went to our local health food store and bought from next. The dried flowers were larger and very clean.
I think you’d be able strain *most* of the grit with a closely woven clothe but then, I’d wonder what type of conditions the flowers were grown and harvested in.
3 says
8
Ralph says
How long can you store dried Jamaica flowers
R says
A very long time! Months! Years?
Think of dry tea bags?
Jason says
Great Recipe! But you MUST try it using Piloncillo (basically brown sugar in a cone shape). This is the most authentic and delicious. Cheers!
R. says
How much piloncillo do you use for 1/2 gallon? ( I don’t want it “candy sweet” but I don’t want it bitter either.) Do you prefer the lighter, or the darker piloncillo?
Deb says
Can you freeze concentrate?
Douglas Cullen says
I’ve never tried freezing it, but I think it would freeze well. If you freeze it let us know how it turns out. Cheers!
Buddy says
It’s been a long time I actually pulled out a piece of paper to take notes on a blog post. Thanks for this. You’ve earned yourself a new reader!
Douglas Cullen says
Great to have you!
Mandy says
You can add a stick of cinumum and skip the sugar. 😊
Also you can add apple cut in cubes when is cold.
I heard even adding peanuts to the drink…
Anna Knox says
Hi I live in San Francisco..where do I buy fresh hibiscus flowers to make the hibiscus water?…or find a concentrate or dried flowers etc….
R. says
Some of the “dollar stores sell it” or try a “mexican style grocery store” like a “Food City” if you have them around.
kerri says
what are the measurements on the piloncillo when using in the recipe? Steps on how to make it with the piloncillo
Misst says
My flowers never sink to the bottom and I’m following the recipe.
gregorio yoshida says
for diabetics, substitute the piloncillo with an all-natural 0-calorie sweetener like stevia. it’s just as good with the pure Jamaica flavor without the caramel undertones of sugar. some of my friends grate a tsp of lime rind into the mixture to give it a lighter, refreshing, citrusy tang, perfect to quench the thirst during the arid months of summer!
Evan says
Thank you for posting this! My grandma and I used to make this together all the time but sadly she passed away 2 years ago.
Douglas Cullen says
Glad you liked the recipe!
Melissa says
Hi, I just came across this recipe today. I had jamaica yesterday at a taco stand in Mexico and it was definitely something I needed to replicate. Just for fridge saving purposes since we’re in an RV, I made 1/2 a batch. How much would you add of the concentrate to a cup if mixing just a glass at a time?
Elle Ann says
just curious – why should the flowers be added to cold water, then heated to boiling? Does this help with rehydrating the flowers and enable the boil to extract more flavor?
Mom Carr says
Hi, I make at least 2 gallons a week, if not more. In my experience, starting with cold water then simmering ensures that you end up with the beautiful garnet red color. Hot water brewing will give you a more purple-ish color and changes the flavor a bit. Not terrible but noticable if you’re a regular drinker. I think a strickly “cold brew” would most likely result in a more bright ruby/red color. I will have to try all three ways now.
I LOVE food science/comparisons/experiments!!!
Also, to the comment that this is a “juice”, imo it more an herbal tea, since it is created by steeping a dried flower in water.
Deborah Parrott says
Can you add the sugar to the concentrate and dilute as needed by the glassfull?
Hannah K says
I have made this several times. You can definitely just sweeten the concentrate and dilute later! I use pure stevia instead of sugar when I sweeten it, and love it that way. This is a fantastic drink!
Renee says
I make this drink quite often, crisp and tart. Add organic sugar and water to dilute if too tart. This drink is refreshing. I use the flowers to make a hearty meal with tacos and burritos after making the beverage.
Charlotte says
Mine gets sludge like clumps on day one. What can cause this?
Laurita says
Not to worry— the most likely explanation for clumps is naturally occurring pectin in the hibiscus. They would resemble small globs of red gelatin, kind of clear-ish and jelly-like. I have had this happen before. I just drink them, but you can always use a fine strainer to remove them if they bother you.
MaryD says
I don’t boil the hibiscus flowers, I just soak them all day and it taste better. Add the same amount of cold water and ice with natural sugar.
Juls says
Why only use 1/3 of the concentrate ? What the hell do I do with the rest ? Come on man ! Makes no sense ! Only use 1/3 of a steak !!! 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎
Lea says
Store the rest in the fridge to use later! Recipe instructions didn’t ask you to throw the rest :) LOL.
Amy says
I have been stirring this vigorously forever and the water still hasn’t dissolved… 😐
JK. The instructions made me laugh! It said to stir vigorously to dissolve the water 🤣
Sarah says
Just want to say that this flower is MAGIC. I’m not much of a “need a drink with a meal” kind of girl, and I just drink the necessary coffee in the AM, and water all day… until this.
I cut the sugar in half, just Bc I love it so much and love to use it to replace some of my daily water. Incredible.
I initially just bought the bag bc I had it one time with birria, and I was makifn a BIG batch of birria for friends- so why not? Then I remembered how lovely it was!
It’s JUICE, without the … thickness?… of juice. It’s honest to goodness my favorite thing.
Gonna buy out the store and figure out how to safely and effectively store the flowers for a while… unless this is supposed to just be a late summer delight.
Because it absolutely is. Yum
Drink ICE cold.
Sarah says
Sidenote: for those concerned about clumping: I use a cold brew cloth bag for straining after. It should be completely and 100% liquid- no clumps.
edward Guishard says
what variety of hibiscus are the flowers from? I am thinking of planting one but want to get the right one
Alyssa says
How much is a 1/3 ?
Les says
Divide the total quantity of juice into 3 equal parts. The quantity in each part is 1/3.
Les says
If you divide the total quantity of juice into 3 equal parts, each part is 1/3.
Rebecca says
Simple and authentic
Stephen Casillas says
Would you be able to provide all of the nutritional values and/or medical benefits of this tea?
Thank you!
Stephen
Dione McGuinness says
Refreshing and delicious, with many purported health benefits! I keep it tart, too.
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Kat says
Thank you for posting. Will try a few variations, this does make some great ice cubes!