Nitrate & Nitrite Free Fresh Hibiscus Berry Lemonade
This vibrant, jewel-toned drink is everything a summer sipper should be — tart, floral, and just sweet enough to feel like a treat. Dried hibiscus flowers steep with fresh strawberries and maple syrup into a deep ruby syrup that looks almost too beautiful to drink. Squeezed lemons and cold water round it out into a refreshing lemonade that's genuinely hard to stop pouring. Every single ingredient here is whole and unprocessed, which matters when you're avoiding preservatives like nitrates and nitrites that sneak into so many packaged beverages and flavored drink mixes. Maple syrup does the sweetening naturally, and the hibiscus-strawberry base brings a complexity that no store-bought powder or concentrate can match. It comes together in one saucepan and a pitcher, making it as easy as it is impressive for a backyard gathering or a quiet afternoon at home.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the hibiscus syrup
- ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers (jamaica/sorrel)
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
For the lemonade
- ¾ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 5–6 lemons)
- 3 cups cold water
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lemon slices, for serving (optional)
- fresh mint sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the dried hibiscus flowers, maple syrup, 2 cups water, and strawberries in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring once or twice, until the maple syrup is fully dissolved and the liquid turns a deep ruby red, about 5–7 minutes.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the mixture steep for 20 minutes, until the hibiscus flavor is fully extracted and the liquid is fragrant and deeply colored.
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