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You are here: Home / Beverages / Agua de Jamaica

Agua de Jamaica

Douglas Cullen, This blog generates income via ads and affiliate links which earn us a small commission.

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.

Glass of Agua de Jamaica (Mexican Hibiscus Iced Tea)

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.

Flor de Jamaica (Dried Hibiscus Flowers) in Ceramic Bowl
Dried Hibiscus Flowers Called “Flor de Jamaica.”

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.
Hibiscus Flowers Soaking in Water
Add Hibiscus Flowers to Cold Water.
  • Add the hibiscus flowers to 2 quarts of water. Be sure you add the flowers to cold water. This makes a difference.
Simmering Flor de Jamaica
Boil Then Reduce the Heat
  • 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.
Hibiscus Concentrate in Pot on Stove
Fully Extracted Hibiscus Tea Concentrate. Note the Deep Red Color
  • 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.
Straining Simmered Hibiscus Flowers (Flor de Jamaica)
Strain the Steeped Hibiscus Flowers
  • Pour the concentrate through a strainer to remove the flowers.
Hibiscus Tea (Jamaica Drink) Concentrate in Pitcher
To Store Pour Concentrate Into Pitcher

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.
Jamaica Drink Concentrate Ready to Prepare
  • Add the sugar and water to fill the pitcher. Stir vigorously to dissolve the sugar.
Adding Sugar to Sweeten Jamaica Concentrate
Pitcher of Agua de Jamaica Drink
  • Serve over ice or well chilled.
Agua de Jamaica Chilled in Tall Glass

Salud!

Mexican Jamaica Drink (Hibiscus Iced Tea) in Tall Glass
Print Pin
3.76 from 78 votes

Agua de Jamaica Recipe

Mexico's well-known jamaica drink, Agua de Jamaica or "hibiscus water." A perfect drink to serve with the mid-day comida. The flavor is sweet and tart at the same time and very refreshing.
Course Beverage
Cuisine Mexican
Keyword agua fresca, hibiscus, iced tea, jamaica
Prep Time 2 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 17 minutes
Servings 12 glasses
Calories 129kcal
Author Douglas Cullen

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

Optional
  • Add I cinnamon stick to the water when steeping.
Alternative Sweeteners
  • Instead of sugar, you can sweeten your drink with piloncillo or agave syrup.
Storing
  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 11ozs. | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Sodium: 5mg | Sugar: 33g

More Mexican Drinks (Aguas Frescas)

  • Agua de Guayaba – Guayaba Drink
  • Agua de Tamarindo – Tamarind Water
  • Agua de Piña – Pineapple Water
  • Agua de Chia – Chia Water
  • Agua de Pepino – Cucumber Water
  • Horchata

More Beverages

  • Champurrado (Chocolate Atole)
  • Classic Mexican Margarita
  • Agua de Melon
  • Mangonada

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ralph says

    September 19, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    How long can you store dried Jamaica flowers

    Reply
    • R says

      March 08, 2021 at 11:24 pm

      A very long time! Months! Years?
      Think of dry tea bags?

      Reply
  2. Jason says

    September 24, 2019 at 7:10 pm

    Great Recipe! But you MUST try it using Piloncillo (basically brown sugar in a cone shape). This is the most authentic and delicious. Cheers!

    Reply
    • R. says

      March 08, 2021 at 11:26 pm

      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?

      Reply
  3. Deb says

    November 24, 2019 at 8:17 am

    Can you freeze concentrate?

    Reply
    • Douglas Cullen says

      December 22, 2019 at 10:44 pm

      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!

      Reply
  4. Buddy says

    December 22, 2019 at 7:56 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Douglas Cullen says

      December 22, 2019 at 10:42 pm

      Great to have you!

      Reply
  5. Mandy says

    February 04, 2020 at 5:34 am

    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…

    Reply
  6. Anna Knox says

    July 30, 2020 at 2:45 am

    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….

    Reply
    • R. says

      March 08, 2021 at 11:27 pm

      Some of the “dollar stores sell it” or try a “mexican style grocery store” like a “Food City” if you have them around.

      Reply
  7. kerri says

    February 25, 2021 at 7:04 am

    what are the measurements on the piloncillo when using in the recipe? Steps on how to make it with the piloncillo

    Reply
  8. Misst says

    April 26, 2021 at 9:32 pm

    My flowers never sink to the bottom and I’m following the recipe.

    Reply
  9. gregorio yoshida says

    June 13, 2021 at 11:36 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply
  10. Evan says

    February 03, 2022 at 10:09 pm

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply
    • Douglas Cullen says

      February 06, 2022 at 2:46 pm

      Glad you liked the recipe!

      Reply
  11. Melissa says

    April 18, 2022 at 2:03 pm

    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?

    Reply
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Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

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D. Cullen Profile Picture

Hola, I am Douglas. Let me share my love of Mexican Cuisine with you that developed over 20+ years of living in Mexico.

More about me →


Most Popular Recipes

  • Classic Salsa Verde
  • Restaurant Style Salsa
  • Traditional Sopa de Fideo
  • Red Pork Pozole
  • Chicken Tinga
  • Agua de Jamaica
  • Tres Leches Cake
  • Beet Salad with Feta Cheese and Citrus Balsamic Viniagrette
  • Red Enchilada Sauce
  • Mole Poblano

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