Citric Acid Free Hibiscus-Berry Strawberry Smoothie with Flaxseed
This smoothie is a gorgeous, deep-magenta blend that tastes as vibrant as it looks — fruity, lightly floral, and just a little warming from the ginger and turmeric. The base starts with a quick steep of dried hibiscus flowers, which brings a naturally tart, berry-forward depth that makes the whole drink feel layered and intentional rather than just thrown together. Frozen strawberries, mixed berries, and banana give it that thick, creamy texture without any dairy, while ground flaxseed quietly adds body and a boost of omega-3s. For anyone navigating citric acid sensitivities, this kind of recipe can be tricky — many store-bought smoothies and fruit blends sneak in citric acid as a preservative, so making it from scratch with whole, recognizable ingredients is genuinely the safest route. The single teaspoon of fresh lemon juice keeps the brightness in check while staying well within a manageable range, but you can always leave it out entirely if you prefer to play it extra safe. A drizzle of honey or maple syrup rounds out the sweetness, and the whole thing comes together in just a few minutes once your hibiscus tea has cooled. Top it with fresh strawberry slices and you've got something that looks like it came from a juice bar — no mystery additives required.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
For the hibiscus tea
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp dried hibiscus flowers
For the smoothie
- 1 ½ cups frozen strawberries
- ½ cup frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries)
- 1 medium banana, peeled and frozen
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- 1 tbsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
For serving
- fresh strawberry slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Bring 1 cup water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat, add the dried hibiscus flowers, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof cup, discard the flowers, and let the tea cool for at least 5 minutes until no longer steaming.
- 2
Add the cooled hibiscus tea, frozen strawberries, frozen mixed berries, frozen banana, ground flaxseed, ground ginger, ground turmeric, honey, and lemon juice to a blender.
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