Hibiscus Iced tea
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Hibiscus
Hibiscus is a beautiful flowering plant, that additionally offers numerous health benefits - and on top of that, it tastes amazing.
Traditionally, hibiscus has especially been used in the Mexican kitchen, where it was used to treat high-blood pressure. This is where hibiscus iced tea stems from, which is traditionally called “Agua de Jamaica”. Today, it is still a traditional Mexican beverage, that often accompanies the mid-day meal.
Today I will share with you my own recipe on hibiscus iced tea, which is made with only natural sweeteners and four ingredients. I like to make a strong extract, that will last longer in the fridge.
If you want to learn more about the health benefits of hibiscus, you can read about it here.
Recipe for one liter of hibiscus extract
30 grams of dried hibiscus flowers (affiliate link)
1 liter of filtered water
The peel of one lemon
One tablespoon of raw honey or other natural sweetener (affiliate link)
Pour the filtered water in a pot and set it off to boil - take the pot off the heat once the water is boiling
Add the dried hibiscus flowers as well as the lemon peels
Put a lid on the pot
Let it steep for a minimum of 4 hours - you can let it steep overnight if you want to. I usually aim for around 5 hours
Once it is done steeping, simply strain away the hibiscus flowers and lemon peels - remember to squeeze out all the fluids from the hibiscus flowers, to ensure you get all the healthy benefits into the extract
Mix in your choice of natural sweetener - I like to use raw honey
Pour into airtight bottles and keep in the fridge for up to a week
Serving
As the recipe is for an extract, you will need to dilute it before consuming. I usually dilute 1 part of the hibiscus extract with 3 parts of water. You can do more or less water, depending on how strong you want your hibiscus iced tea to be. Add ice cubes, a slice of lemon and enjoy your homemade healthy hibiscus iced tea!
Natural sweetener alternatives
This recipe is made with natural sweeteners only. I prefer to use raw honey, as it has its own wonderful health benefits, that suits this healthy beverage perfectly. If you are a vegan or do not want to use honey, I would recommend using monk fruit sweetener as it has a low glycemic index.
My recommendations
When making your own hibiscus iced tea, I recommend using loose hibiscus flowers. This one from Iya Foods is Non-GMO, pure and natural.
Raw honey is my go-to natural sweetener as it is packed with antioxidants, enzymes and many other nutrients. I recommend buying an organic raw honey for maximum benefits and the best quality - this one from Nature Nate’s Store is an excellent option!
As mentioned above, I recommend monk fruit sweetener for people who don’t want to use honey. This one from Sweetleaf is both organic and affordable!
