How to Make Hibiscus Iced Tea
Published May 08, 2023•Updated May 18, 2026
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Get ready to enjoy a glass of the most refreshing, caffeine-free ruby red iced tea you’ve ever had. As someone who has been using this recipe since I was a teenager, I can’t wait to show you exactly How to Make Hibiscus Iced Tea. Made with dried hibiscus flowers or store-bought tea bags, it’s lightly tart and super refreshing. It’s the perfect summer drink.
I had my first taste of hibiscus iced tea on a hot summer day at Dairy Hollow House in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. I loved this refreshing drink, with its unmistakable ruby red color, so much that I went home and immediately started making it for my family. Hibiscus iced tea is loved by my entire household and dinner guests all summer long. And because it’s caffeine-free, it’s a sugar-free tea that even kids can enjoy.
What Does it Taste Like?
Hibiscus iced tea tastes like summer in a glass! 😉 It’s lightly tart and citrusy with a subtle floral flavor. This makes sense because it comes from flowers!
Is it Caffeine Free?
Oh yes. As long as the only ingredient in the tea is dried hibiscus flowers (either loose or from a tea bag), this tea is naturally caffeine free.
How to Make Hibiscus Tea
- Brew the tea. Steep the tea bags or hibiscus flowers for 10 minutes in hot water.
- Remove the tea bags / leaves. If using tea bags, gently remove them from the hot water and discard. Don’t squeeze them or the tea may turn bitter. If using hibiscus flower leaves, strain the tea through a coffee filter or cheesecloth and discard the leaves.
- Chill the tea. Allow the tea to cool, and then refrigerate until chilled.
- Add the sweetener. Stir in apple juice, lemonade, or ginger ale. If using ginger ale, wait to add it until right before serving so it stays carbonated.
- Garnish and serve. Pour over ice and garnish.
Dried Hibiscus Flowers vs. Bagged Tea
You’ve got a few options when it comes to how to make this delicious, tropical-inspired tea. You can steep the dried hibiscus flowers directly in the hot water, or use store-bought hibiscus tea bags. Both methods use petals from hibiscus flowers to give the tea its unique flavor and bright color.
How to Sweeten It
Honestly, most of the time I serve this tea unsweetened. The flavor is wonderful even without sweetener. But, you can always stir in honey or sugar until it is sweetened to your liking. In place of sugar, I also love to use alternative sweeteners like apple juice, lemonade, or ginger ale for a taste that is slightly sweet, but doesn’t alter the unique flavor of the tea.
What is Agua de Jamaica?
Agua de Jamaica (or just “Jamaica”) is the Spanish name for hibiscus iced tea. This ruby red, tart herbal tea is popular at Mexican taquerias and is incredibly easy to make at home.
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Hibiscus are warm climate flowering plants found in tropical regions around the world. There are hundreds of varieties, and dozens of colors of hibiscus flowers, but the most common hibiscus color is red. Dried hibiscus flowers can be used in lots of different ways including in hot and cold teas, punches, jams and jellies, and cocktails.
Ingredients
- Water – Use filtered water for the best tasting hibiscus tea.
- Hibiscus Tea or Dried Hibiscus Flowers – These should be available at most grocery stores. Be sure to get dried hibiscus flowers (not powder) like these. Or look for Red Zinger tea bags.
- Apple Juice, Lemonade, or Ginger Ale (optional) – To sweeten the tea while adding a touch of fruit, ginger, or zingy citrus flavor. This is totally optional – feel free to skip it for an unsweetened tea.
- Mint Leaves and Lime Wedges (optional) – A few sprigs of mint and a piece of bright green lime add a subtle minty fresh tasteand a vibrant zip.
And if you’re looking to up your refreshing summer drink game, a few other great options to serve over ice are authentic Thai iced tea, watermelon lime coolers, or a cold brew coffee spritzer.
Tips
- Take care to allow the warm tea to come to room temperature before you add it to your pitcher. Some materials, like glass, can crack and break if you add a hot liquid to them and then refrigerate.
- Don’t steep the tea for more than 10 minutes and don’t squeeze the tea bags or leaves after steeping. This can cause the tea to turn bitter.
Variations
- Infuse with spice – In some countries, hibiscus-based drinks are made with spices like cloves and cinnamon. Try boiling the water with a cinnamon stick or two for cinnamon hibiscus tea.
- Garnish with edible flowers – For an extra tropical presentation, garnish the tea with a few bright edible flowers. You will find these in the produce section next to the herbs.
- Lemon juice – Lemon juice is a great alternative to lime juice in the tea and adds an extra tart, bright flavor.
FAQs
This is great just about any way you serve it. I always think of it as a summer drink best served over ice. However, it’s also delicious if you warm the tea in a mug for a cozy cup of comfort.
Like most teas, this is not naturally sweet; instead, it has a tangy, almost tart taste. What’s great about this tea is that you can create different flavors based on what you like. Adding lemonade to the tea gives it a citrusy taste, while adding a little apple juice makes it more fruit forward. Ginger ale is a great addition for some fun fizz, and a sweet gingery flavor.
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Hibiscus Iced Tea
Equipment
- Kettle or Saucepan
- Pitcher
Ingredients
- 8 cups water
- 8 bags hibiscus tea (like Red Zinger) or 3 Tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers
- 2 cups apple juice, lemonade, or ginger ale (see note)
- ice
- mint leaves and lime wedges, for garnish
Instructions
- In a kettle or saucepan, bring water to a boil.
- When water is boiling, move it off the heat and add tea bags or hibiscus flowers. Let bags / flowers steep for 10 minutes and then remove.
- Let the tea cool until it can be transferred to a pitcher. Refrigerate until chilled.
- Just before serving, stir in apple juice, lemonade, or ginger ale.
- Serve tea over ice garnished with mint and lime wedges.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
