Coconut Free Iced Hibiscus Tea (Agua de Jamaica)
Few drinks are as visually stunning as this deep crimson agua de Jamaica — it looks like something you'd pay too much for at a trendy café, but it comes together with just a handful of pantry staples. Dried hibiscus flowers steep with a cinnamon stick and sugar to create a richly colored, tart-sweet concentrate that smells absolutely incredible as it simmers. Once strained and diluted with cold water, the result is a refreshing, lightly floral drink that's perfectly balanced and endlessly drinkable. A squeeze of lime over the glass right before serving adds a bright citrus edge that takes the whole thing up a notch. Many bottled or canned hibiscus drinks sneak in coconut water or coconut-derived flavorings, so making it from scratch means you know exactly what's in your glass. The ingredient list is short, the process is straightforward, and the payoff is a pitcher of something genuinely special that works just as well at a backyard cookout as it does at a dinner party.
About FigFig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.
Learn more →Ingredients
6 servings
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers (flor de jamaica)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
For the concentrate
- 4 cups water
To finish
- 3 cups cold water
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 8 to 10 minutes, until the liquid is deeply colored and fragrant.
Want the full recipe?
Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!