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

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.

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

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

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.

Hibiscus Tea Health Benefits

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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5 from 6 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 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Drinks, Tea

Cuisine Mexican

Servings 2 quarts

Calories 301

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• ▢ 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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