Nitrate & Nitrite Free Hibiscus Lemonade
That deep ruby color alone is enough to stop anyone in their tracks, and the flavor absolutely delivers on the promise. Dried hibiscus flowers bring a tart, floral complexity that pairs beautifully with fresh-squeezed lemon juice, while a touch of honey rounds everything out with gentle sweetness. Every single ingredient here is clean and whole — no packaged drink mixes, no preservatives, no hidden additives to second-guess. For anyone navigating nitrate and nitrite concerns, store-bought juices and flavored drinks can be a minefield, so making something this vibrant from scratch is genuinely satisfying. The hibiscus concentrate comes together in under 30 minutes on the stovetop, and once it's strained and chilled, assembly is just a matter of pouring over ice. Fresh mint and lemon slices make it feel like something you'd pay too much for at a café, except you made it yourself with four lemons and a handful of dried flowers.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- ½ cup dried hibiscus flowers
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice (from about 4 lemons)
- 1 cup cold water
For the hibiscus concentrate
- 3 cups water
- 3 tbsp honey
For serving
- 2 cups ice cubes
- 4 lemon slices (optional)
- 4 fresh mint sprigs (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the dried hibiscus flowers and 3 cups of water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes, until the liquid is a deep ruby red.
- 2
Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the honey until fully dissolved. Let the concentrate steep and cool for 20 minutes.
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