BHA & BHT Free Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
This vibrant crimson drink is tart, floral, and refreshing in a way that feels both exotic and deeply familiar ā the kind of thing you'll want to keep a pitcher of in the fridge all summer long. Store-bought flavored beverages and bottled teas are notorious for sneaking in synthetic preservatives like BHA and BHT to extend shelf life, but this recipe sidesteps all of that with just four clean, whole ingredients. Dried hibiscus flowers, sugar, a cinnamon stick, and water are all you need to build something genuinely special. Simmering the flowers low and slow draws out that gorgeous deep ruby color and a complex, cranberry-like flavor that no bottle can replicate. A squeeze of lime over ice takes it completely over the top. It's naturally free of anything artificial, and every sip is proof that the simplest approach is almost always the best one.
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Learn more āIngredients
6 servings
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers (flor de jamaica)
- Ā½ cup granulated sugar, or more to taste
- 1 cinnamon stick
For the concentrate
- 4 cups water
For diluting
- 2 cups cold water, for diluting
For serving
- ice, for serving
- lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the dried hibiscus flowers, 4 cups water, sugar, and cinnamon stick in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring once or twice until the sugar dissolves.
- 2
Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer for 8ā10 minutes, until the liquid is deeply colored and fragrant.
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