Picture this:

You're at a restaurant or café, and you're just so tired of the same ol' black tea.

You find yourself asking for extra sugar because it's never sweet enough, or maybe you've even gotten a soda refill by mistake because it looks just like your iced tea.

Well, fret not, my dears, because I've found the perfect solution to all those little annoyances: Hibiscus Ice Tea!

Origins

Hibiscus is a beautiful, bright red flower native to the Southeastern region of the United States. You may see them at your local flower shop or garden center as they are a common household flower.

However, it’s not just a beautiful plant. Consuming it provides many health benefits as well. Hibiscus tea is known for being packed with antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamin C.

It’s known to fight inflammation and bacteria, support liver health, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Ingredients

• Hibiscus Tea Leaves - These can be more difficult to find. Most big box grocery stores will have hibiscus tea already in a tea bag, and not loose. Search your community for a tea shop or herbal shop. These stores may have whole, dried hibiscus flowers or loose tea you can mix and match.

• Lemons & Limes - Slice these however you like! If you want to squeeze the juice out into the tea before submerging the whole fruit, it will add tartness to the tea.

• Cinnamon - Using a cinnamon stick rather than powdered cinnamon for this Hibiscus Tea is best. It is easier to strain and won’t change the color of the water.

• Ginger - Fresh ginger is always best. All you need is an inch-ish size piece. Make sure to wash and peel the ginger before sticking it in the tea.

Tips

Cold Steeping vs. Hot Steeping

Cold steeping is a technique where tea is steeped in cold water. This gentle process brings out the tea's subtle flavors, and I find it usually results in a less bitter taste. Plus, it's a great way to preserve all those fantastic antioxidants we love in our tea! The only downside is that it takes a little longer – usually between 12-24 hours – to extract those natural flavors. But trust me, it's worth the wait!

On the other hand, hot steeping is when you brew your tea in boiling hot water. It's the traditional method most of us are familiar with, and it releases a wealth of flavors from the tea leaves. The process is much quicker, too – you only need to steep the tea for about 5 minutes before removing it from the water and savoring every sip.

This recipe can be achieved by cold or hot steeping. If you’ve never tried to cold steep tea, and have the time to wait, I recommend giving it a try!

Strain the tea with a fine, mesh strainer. 

I recommend using a fine, mesh strainer to strain the tea once it is steeped. This will keep all the loose tea leaves, fruit pulp, ginger, and cinnamon sticks from entering your finished tea batch. Using a colander or a strainer with wide holes won’t catch all the remnants of the tea leaves.

Shelf Life

Strain the tea into individual mason jars or a large pitcher and keep it in the fridge. Cold-steeped, will remain good in the fridge for 2-3 days. While the shelf life is short, having another batch steeping in the meantime is easy.

Instructions

First, start by prepping all the ingredients that will be steeped in the tea.

Slice the lemons and the limes into thin slices or wedges, then peel the ginger root.

Add the sliced lemons, sliced limes, cinnamon stick, peeled ginger root, and loose hibiscus flowers to a pitcher.

Fill the pitcher with cold water and stir everything together.

Place in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours for the tea to cold steep. This process will take longer, but the flavor will be bolder.

When ready to serve, strain into another pitcher, or right into a glass.

Serving Suggestions

Hibiscus Ice Tea is a light, refreshing beverage for all types of events. Serve it at:

• Brunch with the girls
• A barbecue with friends, family, and neighbors
• A cocktail event as a non-alcoholic cocktail option
• Book Club
• Pot luck for your office (nobody ever brings drinks!)

Hibiscus Ice Tea stands alone as a beautiful drink. However, garnish it to add that extra touch of character.

• Lime wheels or wedges
• Lemon wheels or wedges
• Shave thin pieces of ginger and skewer with a toothpick
• Pineapple wedge
• Raspberries or a slice of strawberries
• Serve it in a wine glass with ice
• Pour over a large ice cube in a rocks glass
• Serve in a mason jar with a fun bendy straw

Substitutes

Tea is a beverage as versatile as water. There are tons of different flavors you can use to enhance tea, including:

• Substitute lemons and limes for:
  • Orange
  • Grapefruit
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blackberries
• Add more ginger for a more bitter taste.
• Add honey for a sweeter flavor profile.
• Throw in fresh herbs for a more aromatic flavor, including:
  • Basil leaf
  • Sprig of thyme
  • Sprig of Mint

FAQ

Is Hibiscus Ice Tea good for you?

Isn't it just the perfect refresher on those warm summer days? But did you know it's also packed with amazing health benefits? Oh yes, it's true! Hibiscus Ice Tea contains antioxidants that can help battle inflammation, lower our blood pressure, and even reduce lipid levels. Talk about a super drink!

Is it OK to drink Hibiscus Ice Tea daily?

Well, as much as I'd love to say yes, moderation is key, lovely ladies. While one 8-12 oz glass per day is A-OK, we should avoid drinking more than one liter daily since tea contains aluminum. So let's keep it to just one refreshing glass daily, shall we?

How much caffeine is in Hibiscus Ice Tea?

It's naturally caffeine-free! 🎉 That's right, no need to worry about staying up all night or getting drowsy when you're trying to get things done. Hibiscus Ice Tea is a fantastic way to increase our water intake and boost those natural antioxidants without any unwanted side effects.

Whether you are looking for a refreshing beverage to start your day or something calming and delicious to wind down after a long day at work, this tea is just what you need.

It’s easy to prepare, full of color and flavor, and adaptable to any flavor palate.

📖 Recipe