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Home > Drinks Recipes > Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica) – How To Make With Health Benefits and Risks

Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica) – How To Make With Health Benefits and Risks

Last updated May 7, 2021. Originally posted May 7, 2021 By Jyothi Rajesh 24 Comments

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health benefits of hibiscus tea with text overlay

Ruby red floral flavored hibiscus tea is one of the most traditional tea that is not just pretty but tasty too.  This easy to make floral tea is a great addition to afternoon tea party. Learn how to make hibiscus iced tea with both fresh flower petals and dried petals.

iced hibiscus tea in 2 glasses
Jump to:
  • What You’ll Need To Make The Tea
  • How To Make Hibiscus Tea (Step-By-Step)
  • Hibiscus Tea Health Benefits
  • Risks and Possible Side Effects
  • 📋 How To make Hibiscus Tea (With Health Benefits and Risks)

NOTE: I don’t claim to be an expert in any ways. Information shared below are from my own personal knowledge gained over the years and a fair share of information below was collected from internet.

If you have any health ailments or if you are a pregnant women, please consult your doctor before consuming this tea!

What You’ll Need To Make The Tea

Here’s what you’ll need-

  • 1.25 quarts water
  • 15 fresh hibiscus flower petals or ½ cup dried hibiscus petals
  • 2 inch Fresh ginger a few thin slices
  • One stalk lemon grass
  • 1 teaspoon all spice berries
  • Cinnamon stick
  • ½ cup basil leaves
  • 2 lime juiced
  • ½ cup raw honey
  • Ice cubes
ingredients for hibiscus tea

Finding The Right Hibiscus Flower For Tea

My garden has a hibiscus tree with abundance of hibiscus flower all year long. I always reap it’s benefits.

Note there are close to 40 different varieties of hibiscus flower plant that is grown in India. Not all of them are edible. If you are using fresh hibiscus flower to make tea, please note some of the varieties can get you sick.

There are many colors of hibiscus and I prefer the red ones to make tea. Varieties Roselle, Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella), Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are some of the edible hibiscus varieties and safe to use.

If you live in a country where hibiscus tree is not seen commonly, you can always purchase dried hibiscus petals or hibiscus powder from any Mexican market or a good reputed source.  A lot of varieties are now easily available online.

How To Make Hibiscus Tea (Step-By-Step)

Easy to follow guide on how to make hibiscus iced tea from both fresh flowers and dried petals.  This tea can be served both hot or cold. Please consume hibiscus tea in moderation.

From fresh flower petals

hibiscus iced tea step by step pictorial
  1. Pluck all the fresh flowers of hibiscus from hibiscus plant.
  2. Separate the petals of the flower. Discard the calyx and pistil of the flower. Rinse it well.
  3. For every 4 cups of water, use 8-10 flowers of hibiscus. Pro-Tip: If you want to strong flavored tea, use more flowers than mentioned above. Note: Do not steep tea for longer time. It might make the tea taste bitter.
  4. Boil water and hibiscus petals in a large pot. Once water begins to boil, remove from heat.
  5. At this stage you can add in more flavors to the tea. We added ginger, lemon grass, all spice berries, cinnamon stick, basil leaves to the tea for flavors.
  6. Cover tight and let the tea steep for 15 minutes. Pro-Tip: Do not steep tea for longer. It will turn bitter. If you want strong hibiscus flavor add more flower petals instead of steeping longer.
  7. Strain the tea and discard the petals and all other ingredients in the tea. Tea concentrate can be refrigerated and used as you want. If you like to drink it hot, simple warm it up, add lemon juice and honey. Stir and drink up.
  8. And if you want to make hibiscus iced tea, refrigerate the concentrate mixed with lemon and honey.
  9. Once chilled serve it with a cup of chilled water or ice cubes to dilute. Dilute it as per your preference. You can keep it strong as you like or dilute it with more ice.
  10. Serve it garnish with fresh basil leaves, few lemon slices and a lemon grass for stirring. Oh talk about fancy stirring!

From Dried Hibiscus Petals

For every 4 cups of water, use about ½ cup of dried petals. Pour boiling hot water over the dried petals and let it steep. You can add in more flavors with basil, lemon grass, cinnamon. Follow the same steps mentioned for fresh petals.

refreshing hibiscus iced tea served in glasses with basil and lemon

Hibiscus Tea Health Benefits

What is Agua de Jamaica?

Agua de Jamaica(pronounced “HAH-MY-CAH”)  is one of Mexico’s most popular agua frescas.  This well known Mexican drink is made from infusing hibiscus flowers.  It translates to “hibiscus water” that is sweetened with sugar.
Typically in Mexico Agua de Jamaica is very sweet and served in pitcher loaded with ice. This cold brew hibiscus flower tea is one of the most popular summer drink.

Hibiscus Tea Benefits

Hibiscus flower is grown in tropical and semi-tropical countries. My garden is loaded with this medicinal flower all year round. It finds it’s use in more than one way. Apart from using it for brewing tea, there are so many more health benefits of this floral tea.
No doubt hibiscus flower tea delicious and all healthy for you! You get a drink with no chemical, no food colors and a drink not loaded with sugar.  High sugar and preservative added drinks be gone, say hello to a calorie free hydration that is caffeine free too.

BENEFITS – For Hair Care

Hibiscus also acts like a miracle hair conditioner. Apply a mask of freshly ground hibiscus flower on your hair for 30 minutes,  rinse it off. It prevents your hair from dryness, frizz and breakage.
My mom always plucks the flowers that are drying out or about to fall off the plant, dries it completely in sun and adds it to hot coconut oil. Hibiscus flower has amazing medicinal properties that helps boost hair growth. It’s rich in vitamin C that boosts collagen a kind of amino acid that gives hair the strength.

BENEFITS – Helps Lower Blood Pressure

A cup or two of hibiscus flower tea in a day helps reduce your BP and thus the risk of hyper tension.  To get the benefits of this wonder tea you need to drink it regularly.hibiscus tea in pitcher

BENEFITS – Supports Healthy Cholesterol

Protects Liver
This fast paced life style has bought in some serious cholesterol-related health problems.  Hibiscus flower is rich in anti-oxidants that helps reducing the LDL (the bad cholesterol) , reducing the risk of heart attacks.

BENEFITS – Improves Metabolism

Drinking this tea aids in digestion. If you are constipated, this amazing tea will help in regularizing your bowel movement. This might help you with weight loss.

BENEFITS – Natural Antidepressant

The common signs of depression can be – fatigue, feeling of hopelessness, loss of interest. And some studies have shown that hibiscus flower tea has flavonoids that carry antidepressant properties helps reduced depression symptoms. It calms the nervous system thus alleviate depression.
The antioxidant properties of hibiscus flower helps protect liver by reducing the risk of fatty build up in livers which may lead to liver cancers.

BENEFITS – May Prevent Kidney Stones

Hibiscus carries diuretic properties that increase urination and normalizes bowel movement.  The anti-urolithiatic property in it lowers the instant of compounds that form kidney stones.

BENEFITS – Body Coolant

When served as iced tea, it acts as healthy thirst quencher and keeping your body cool by flushing out all the harmful toxins.2 glasses of hibiscus iced tea

Risks and Possible Side Effects

No doubt, hibiscus iced tea is all-natural-all-good-for- your- health-drink.  But it does have some minor side effects and risks.

  1. Pregnant women should never drink hibiscus tea or take any hibiscus products as it may induce menstruation.
  2. Drink the tea in moderation – 2 cups a day tops. Not more than that! Too much of hibiscus may be toxic.
  3. Avoid this tea if you are on low blood pressure medication. As hibiscus flower has the property to reduce blood pressure. For all lower blood pressure personnel, hibiscus iced tea can lead to severe risk as it may cause blood pressure to drop.
  4. If consumed in high doses, it may toxin the liver.
  5. Hibiscus is very acidic. People suffering from heart burns should avoid drinking hibiscus tea.

LOOKING FOR MORE SUMMER COOLING DRINKS! CHECK THESE:

Watermelon Mojito

Strawberry Southern Sweet Tea

Lemon Iced Tea

Strawberry Lemonade

Orange Julius

Spicy Watermelon Margarita

Frozen Watermelon Smoothie

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iced hibiscus tea in 2 glasses
5 from 5 votes

📋 How To make Hibiscus Tea (With Health Benefits and Risks)

Jyothi Rajesh
This ruby red fruity flavored hibiscus tea is one of the most traditional tea that is as beautiful as it is tasty. Easy to make and great addition to afternoon tea party.
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Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Course Drinks, Tea
Cuisine Mexican
Servings 2 quarts
Calories 301

Ingredients
  

  • 1.25 quarts water
  • 15 fresh hibiscus flower petals or ½ cup dried hibiscus petals
  • 2 inch Fresh ginger a few thin slices (adjust quantity on how strong or less you want)
  • 1 small lemon grass
  • 1 teaspoon all spice berries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ½ cup basil leaves
  • 2 lime juiced
  • ½ cup raw honey or other sweeteners – stevia, sugar
  • Ice cubes

For Garnish

  • Ice cubes
  • Fresh basil leaves sprigs
  • Lemon grass stick
  • Lemon slices

Instructions
 

  • Hibiscus tea can be served hot or cold and drink it all year long no matter what the weather is outside. But please take in moderation.

From fresh flower petals

  • Separate the petals of the flower. Discard the calyx and pistil of the flower.
  • Rinse it well.
  • For every 4 cups of water, use 8-10 flowers of hibiscus.
  • If you want to strong flavored hibiscus tea, use more flowers than mentioned above.
    Note: Do not steep hibiscus tea for longer time. It might make the tea taste bitter.
  • Boil water and hibiscus petals in a large pot. Once water begins to boil, remove from heat.
  • At this stage you can add in more flavors to the tea. We added ginger, lemon grass, all spice berries, cinnamon stick, basil leaves to the tea for flavors.
  • Cover tight and let the tea steep for 15 minutes.
    Pro-Tip: Do not steep tea for longer. It will turn bitter. If you want strong hibiscus flavor add more flower petals instead of steeping longer.
  • Strain the tea and discard the petals and all other ingredients in the tea.
  • This is hibiscus tea concentrate that can be refrigerated and used as you want.
  • If you like to drink it hot, simple warm it up, add lemon juice and honey. Stir and drink up.
  • And if you want to make hibiscus iced tea, refrigerate the concentrate mixed with lemon and honey.
  • Once chilled serve it with a cup of chilled water or ice cubes to dilute. Dilute it as per your preference. You can keep it strong as you like or dilute it with more ice.
  • Serve it garnish with fresh basil leaves, few lemon slices and a lemon grass for stirring. Oh talk about fancy stirring!

From Dried Hibiscus Petals

  • For 4 cups of water, use about ½ cup of dried petals. Pour boiling hot water over the dried petals and let it steep. You can add in more flavors with basil, lemon grass, cinnamon. Follow the same steps mentioned for fresh petals.
  • Hibiscus tea, hibiscus tea benefits, iced tea, summer drinks, Mexican drink, floral tea, healthy drinks

Video

Notes

FINDING HIBISCUS FLOWER FOR HIBISCUS TEA

There are close to 40 different varieties of hibiscus flower plant that is grown in India. Not all of them are edible. If you are using fresh hibiscus flower to make tea, please note some of the varieties van get you sick.
The variety called Roselle, Cranberry Hibiscus (Hibiscus acetosella), Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) are some of the edible hibiscus varieties and safe to use.
If you live in a country where hibiscus tree is not common thing, you can always purchase dried hibiscus or hibiscus powder from any Mexican market or a good reputed source.  A lot of varieties are now easily available online.
IMPORTANT – READ THIS!
  1. Pregnant women should never drink hibiscus tea or take any hibiscus products as it may induce menstruation.
  2. Drink the tea in moderation – 2 cups a day tops. Not more than that! Too much of hibiscus may be toxic.
  3. Avoid this tea if you are on low blood pressure medication. As hibiscus flower has the property to reduce blood pressure. For all lower blood pressure personnel, hibiscus iced tea can lead to severe risk as it may cause blood pressure to drop.
  4. If consumed in high doses, it may toxin the liver.
  5. Hibiscus is very acidic. People suffering from heart burns should avoid drinking hibiscus tea.
 
Nutritional Info – Please keep in mind that nutritional information provided is only a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 301kcalCarbohydrates: 83gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 38mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 4gSugar: 71gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 23mgCalcium: 89mgIron: 2mg
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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Daniela says

    June 24, 2019 at 11:33 am

    This sounds so refreshing!!! Def gonna make it this summer! Perfect for these warm months :).

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 24, 2019 at 12:30 pm

      thank you

      Reply
  2. Julie says

    June 24, 2019 at 8:24 am

    I love hibiscus tea and drink it a lot, and was shocked to discover the dangers of drinking it with pregnancy! I had it frequently during my first pregnancy and through the start of my second until I read that it should be avoided while pregnant.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 24, 2019 at 8:32 am

      This is a great tea to drink, but there are some risks. It definitely needs to be avoided during pregnancy.

      Reply
  3. Amanda says

    June 24, 2019 at 2:19 am

    5 stars
    I love a good iced tea recipe this time of year, and the hibiscus addition sound delicious! What a refreshing-looking drink. I look forward to making this all summer long!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 24, 2019 at 8:31 am

      Thank you

      Reply
  4. jagruti says

    June 24, 2019 at 1:05 am

    We love hibiscus tea, you are lucky to find fresh hibiscus flowers, tea looks so refreshing!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 24, 2019 at 8:32 am

      thank you

      Reply
  5. Sara says

    June 23, 2019 at 8:00 am

    5 stars
    Hibiscus tea is absolutely one of my FAVORITE tea flavors of all time! Your tips and suggestions for hibiscus usage are awesome, too! I want to grow some for myself now!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm

      thanks

      Reply
  6. Kelly Anthony says

    June 23, 2019 at 5:51 am

    What gorgeous color on this tea! I can just see my lady friends sipping on a glass while we chat on the porch on a hot summer day! Looks like it would totally quench your thirst!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  7. kallee says

    June 23, 2019 at 2:41 am

    It is simply beautiful. And it has so many health benefits too.

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm

      Thank you Kallee

      Reply
  8. Tatiana says

    June 23, 2019 at 12:58 am

    5 stars
    I adore hibiscus! Sounds deliciously refreshing and looks lovely. I love drinking pretty drinks!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 23, 2019 at 10:07 pm

      thank you

      Reply
  9. Amy says

    June 22, 2019 at 7:32 pm

    I love hibiscus tea! Not only does your version look completely refreshing, I love your tip on how to use the dried leaves for hair care! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 22, 2019 at 10:16 pm

      Thank you Amy

      Reply
  10. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

    June 21, 2019 at 3:40 pm

    5 stars
    Wow! This looks sooo refreshing! I will definitely make this one now!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 21, 2019 at 6:00 pm

      Thank you

      Reply
  11. Anne Lawton says

    June 21, 2019 at 3:25 am

    5 stars
    I love hibuscus tea, and your version made with fresh ingredients sounds amazing! Perfect for a hot summer day!

    Reply
    • jyothirajesh says

      June 21, 2019 at 9:12 am

      Thank you Anne

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 15+ Yummy Tea Recipes You Haven't Made Yet - Dalene Ekirapa says:
    July 21, 2019 at 8:13 pm

    […] Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica) […]

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  2. Honey Sweetened Ice Lemon Tea Recipe - CurryTrail says:
    June 17, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    […] Hibiscus Tea […]

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Jyothi - Author of Curry Trail.

Welcome, I'm Jyothi

My food philosophy is simple, fresh and full of flavors! I love ‘spicy’ food. In fact so much so that I can skip dessert for extra spicy savory food!

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