Iced Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
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My hibiscus iced tea is an easy-to-make, refreshingly fruity beverage. Perfect for hot summer days, it features the tart, cooling flavors of hibiscus and lime and the soothing sweetness of cinnamon and sugar.
This Mexican-inspired recipe for hibiscus iced tea is fruity, floral, and flavorful. Also called agua de Jamaica or Jamaica drink, this tropical treat is sweet, sour, and mildly spiced.
Hibiscus iced tea is simple to prepare, requiring only 5 minutes of prep work and a total of 5 ingredients. And yet, it is fancy enough to impress anyone you make it for.
This is one of my favorite drinks to enjoy poolside when the weather gets really hot. Plus, it makes a great alcohol-free beverage option for potlucks and barbecues. Feel free to double the recipe if you are having a big party!
Table of Contents
For more tasty drink recipes, check out my Brazilian Lemonade (Limonada), Horchata Recipe, or this Champurrado (Chocolate Atole).
- Hibiscus – The star of the show, hibiscus has a tart, puckering flavor similar to that of fresh cranberry. You can sometimes find the dried flowers in the tea section at the supermarket. Otherwise, you can check your local Mexican market, herb shop, or with an online retailer. Ideally you want dried flowers that are soft and pliable, as they are the freshest.
- Cinnamon – Accentuates the natural sweetness in the hibiscus and lime with a gentle, harmonizing warmth. If a cinnamon stick isn’t available, you can substitute ½ teaspoon of powdered spice.
- Lime – Brightens up the Jamaica drink with a blast of citrus sunshine.
- Sugar – Sweetens the tea while smoothing over some of the sharper flavors in the drink. This recipe is rather sweet, so feel free to add more or less sugar depending on your tastes. If desired, you can try using honey or agave syrup instead.
- Water – Although we start out with 2 quarts of water, don’t be surprised if you only end up with a quart and a half of hibiscus iced tea. The hibiscus flowers will absorb a surprising amount of liquid.
Things to Note About Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a flowering plant that flourishes in warm, tropical climates the world over. Several varieties exist and have been used in food and medicine for centuries.
The most common color of hibiscus is the deep, luscious red that we see in this hibiscus iced tea. However, the petals can be rose, yellow, or even beige. While there are slight variances in flavor, all varieties of hibiscus impart the same tantalizing tartness.
- Make Cinnamon Syrup. Add the water, sugar, and cinnamon stick to a large pot. Bring the mixture to a boil, stir to ensure all the sugar is dissolved, then remove the pot from heat.
- Submerge & Steep. Toss the hibiscus flowers into the warm liquid, pressing down with a spoon to submerge. Steep for a minimum of 30 minutes and no longer than 2 hours. Past that, the flavor will be negatively affected.
- Strain & Serve. Pour the drink mixture through a sieve, removing any debris and setting you up for spicy, fruity success. Serve with a fresh squeeze of lime and enjoy!
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Hibiscus iced tea is a cold, refreshingly fruity beverage with a uniquely tropical twist.
The hibiscus flowers and lime juice deliver a delightful tartness reminiscent of cranberries and is highlighted by the warmth of the cinnamon and the sweetness of the sugar. Put it all together and you end up with a delicious beverage that is sweet, sour, and cooling with a hint of spiciness.
Yes, drinking agua de Jamaica every day is safe for most people. In fact, it has a surprisingly nourishing beverage.
In addition to being ridiculously delicious, hibiscus iced tea is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that benefit immune, cardiovascular, liver, and even reproductive health.
However, not everyone should drink agua de Jamaica every day. For example, it is so effective at lowering blood pressure that it could cause issues for anyone who struggles with low blood pressure. Women who are pregnant (or trying to be) should probably avoid it as well, due to its effects on hormone balance.
Mexican hibiscus iced tea is known as Jamaica drink because that is where the plant used in the first recipes in the region came from.
The flowering plant arrived in Mexico from the neighboring island of Jamaica during colonial times. It quickly became popular, inspiring the creation of this agua de Jamaica and many other tasty tropical recipes.
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Iced Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large pot add the water, sugar and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve sugar and then remove from heat.
- Add hibiscus flowers, gently pushing down to submerge the flowers with a spoon. Steep the tea for 30 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours (it will get bitter).
- Strain hibiscus flowers and cinnamon stick from tea into in a pitcher to cool. Refrigerate your Agua de Jamaica and serve over ice with a squeeze of lime.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Wanted you to know I made this for a party this past weekend and dipped the glass rims in your chamoy sauce then rolled it in your tajin seasoning for a triple threat winner!
Haha! Love it! Really appreciate you coming back to let me know Caroline. Great combination there.
This is a winner! What a great additon to my summer. There’s something about this ice tea that hits the satisfying buttton and its so refreshing to drink daily.. Thanks
Thanks so much Stu for coming back to let me know!
So good and refreshing, almost reminds me of cranberry juice! Thank you.
So glad you enjoyed this Joanne!
Looks good and simple.
Which one of your Tex Mex recipes would you pair this with ?
Those tasty Tex Mex Cheese Enchiladas come to mind, but really any will work with this Paul.
This looks amazing
Thanks Marnie, hope you try this one!