Learn how to make hibiscus tea with this easy 2-ingredient recipe! This flavorful drink is delicious hot or iced, and it has amazing health benefits.
I make this hibiscus tea recipe at least once a week. In winter, I enjoy it warm, the ruby red drink revives me when the weather is cold and gray. In the summer, I like it iced. On a hot day, its bold and sour taste is very refreshing.
I share my go-to method for how to make hibiscus tea below. If you haven’t tried it yet, I hope you do! It is delicious and very simple to make. This hibiscus tea recipe calls for 2 ingredients and requires less than 5 minutes of hands-on preparation. Plus, it has some amazing health benefits. Read more about them below.
What is hibiscus?
Used on its own, the term hibiscus refers to a genus of temperate and tropical plants. In this post, I am talking about a specific type of hibiscus, hibiscus sabdariffaalso called roselle. Native to Central and West Africa, the roselle is now cultivated and used all over the world. Although hibiscus leaves are edible, the calyx and flowers of the hibiscus plant are more widely used for making teas, jams, and syrups. For example, in the Caribbean, dried roselle flowers are used to make drink of Jamaican sorrel, a sweet hibiscus drink with ginger, clove, and allspice. In Mexico, the same dried hibiscus flowers are created Jamaican watera hibiscus agua fresca.
Among hibiscus drinks, this hibiscus tea recipe is about as simple as it gets. You only need two ingredients: dried hibiscus flowers and water. Since there are no other mix-ins in it, this is a great way to get familiar with the flavor of hibiscus. It’s fruity and tart, not like cranberry juice. I think you will like it!
Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea. As detailed by this Cleveland Clinic articleit is thought to have several health benefits:
- It is full of antioxidants such as vitamin C and beta-carotene, which fight harmful free radicals in the body.
- It reduces inflammation.
- Studies have shown that drinking hibiscus tea can be lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol.
Check out this article to learn more about the side effects and health benefits of hibiscus tea!
How to Make Hibiscus Tea
This hibiscus tea recipe is so simple to make! Here’s how it goes:
- Place 1/4 cup of dried hibiscus flowers in a quart-size Mason jar or pitcher.
- Pour in 4 cups of filtered water and stir.
- Chill in the refrigerator until the tea is bright red, at least 20 minutes. Refrigerate overnight for deeper color and flavor.
- Strain the mixture into a pitcher to remove the hibiscus petals.
Serve this tea in glasses filled with ice. If you like, stir in a sweetener like honey, agave, or maple syrup to taste. Garnish with fresh mint leaves and raspberries, and enjoy!
Variations
- Make it frothy. Top off a glass of strong iced tea with sparkling water. Add a squeeze of lime juice for a citrusy kick.
- Make it better. Before you put the tea in the refrigerator to cool, add a cinnamon stick to the pitcher or jar. I love its warming flavor with fruity and floral notes in this drink!
- Make hot tea. Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1 tablespoon of dried hibiscus flowers in a mesh tea infuser. Let steep for 5 minutes. Remove the hibiscus and enjoy the tea with honey and lemon juice.
More Refreshing Drink Recipes
If you love learning how to make hibiscus tea, try one of these refreshing drinks next:
Hibiscus Tea
Serving 4
Learn how to make hibiscus tea! Completely caffeine-free, this energizing drink is tart and refreshing. If you can’t find dried hibiscus flowers at your grocery store, they are easily available online.
- ¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers
- 4 cups cold filtered water
- ice, for delivery
- Sweetener of choice, such as sugar, maple syrup, honey, or agave, optional
- 1 small bunch of fresh mint, for decoration
- ¼ cup raspberries, for decoration
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Place the hibiscus flowers in a (1-quart) jar or medium pitcher. Add the water, stir to combine, and refrigerate until bright red, at least 20 minutes. For deeper color and flavor, refrigerate overnight.
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Pour the tea through a fine mesh strainer set into a bowl or jug to remove the hibiscus flowers. Pour into ice-filled glasses and sweeten to taste, if desired.
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Garnish with fresh mint and raspberries.