Hibiscus Iced Tea Lime (Printer-friendly)

A bright and tangy iced tea featuring hibiscus and fresh lime for a cool, revitalizing drink.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Tea Base

01 - 4 cups water
02 - 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers (flor de jamaica)

→ Sweetener

03 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 tbsp honey or agave syrup

→ Finishing & Garnish

05 - 3 cups cold water
06 - 2 limes, juiced (about 1/4 cup juice)
07 - Lime slices for garnish
08 - Fresh mint leaves for garnish
09 - Ice cubes

# How to Make It:

01 - Bring 4 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
02 - Remove saucepan from heat and stir in dried hibiscus flowers. Cover and let steep for 10 minutes to extract full flavor and color.
03 - Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large pitcher. Discard the used hibiscus flowers.
04 - While tea is still warm, add granulated sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Incorporate honey or agave syrup if using.
05 - Stir in fresh lime juice and 3 cups of cold water until well combined.
06 - Refrigerate the tea for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to meld and beverage to reach optimal serving temperature.
07 - Fill serving glasses with ice cubes, pour chilled hibiscus tea over ice, and garnish with fresh lime slices and mint leaves.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The stunning ruby red color makes any gathering feel instantly festive and special
  • Naturally caffeine-free so you can serve it at any time of day without worry
  • Perfectly balances tart and sweet in a way storebought versions never achieve
02 -
  • Never boil the hibiscus flowers directly—boiling water can make them bitter and overly astringent
  • The tea will continue steeping as it cools, so dont exceed the 10 minute steep time if you prefer it less tart
  • Fresh lime juice is absolutely worth the extra effort over bottled stuff
03 -
  • Buy your dried hibiscus flowers from international markets—they're often fresher and less expensive than gourmet spice shops
  • If the tea looks more purple than red, try adding a tiny pinch of baking soda to shift the color toward magenta