Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!}

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Author:

Isabel

Published:

July 22, 2019

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy.

Made with only 3 ingredients, Agua de Jamaica is a sweet and tart refreshing drink made from hibiscus flowers that’s very popular in Mexico. It’s one of the most popular kinds of agua frescas and is ready in only 15 minutes!

Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!} - Isabel Eats (1)

Sweet, tart and refreshing, Agua de Jamaica is one of the most popular types of agua frescas in Mexico. Made from dried hibiscus flowers, water and sugar, it can be sweetened to your personal liking and is a flavorful alternative to soda

What is Agua de Jamaica?

Agua de Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-cah) is a hibiscus iced tea drink made from dried hibiscus flowers (or “Flor de Jamaica” in Spanish), water and sugar. The hibiscus tea is very tart and almost has a cranberry-like flavor, which is why it’s typically sweetened with sugar.

Sometimes it’s made with additional spices like cinnamon and ginger, but today we’re making the tried and true typical Mexican version you’ll find in restaurants and markets.

Where to find dried hibiscus flowers

Hibiscus flowers are fairly common in most Mexican grocery stores and can be found near the spices or dried chiles.

If you can’t find any near you, you can order them online on Amazon.

Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!} - Isabel Eats (2)

More Aguas Frescas

There are many flavors of aguas frescas made from different ingredients, including fruits, teas, and even rice! Here are some different aguas frescas to enjoy:

Cucumber – Agua de Pepino
Tamarind – Agua de Tamarindo
Pineapple – Agua de Piña
Rice and Almond – Horchata
Watermelon – Agua de Sandia
Fresa – Agua de Fresa
Cantaloupe – Agua de Melon

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How to make Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)

Add 4 cups of water and 1 1/2 cups of dried hibiscus flowers to a pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and let sit for another 5 minutes.

Carefully strain the mixture into a glass container and discard the hydrated hibiscus flowers.

Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!} - Isabel Eats (3)

At this point, you can store the hibiscus tea concentrate in the fridge until you’re ready to use it (see recipe card below for more info).

To make this tea into a full pitcher of a deliciously tart and sweet jamaica drink, pour the concentrate into a pitcher and add 4 cups of water and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir to combine, taste and adjust the sweetness and/or potency by adding more sugar or water if desired.

Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!} - Isabel Eats (4)

Traditionally, Agua de Jamaica is very sweet and fairly strong, but I know everyone has different preferences which is why I recommend starting with 1/4 cup sugar, 4 cups of water and then adding in more if you want it a little sweeter and/or more diluted.

And don’t forget that you’re going to serve the tea with ice, which may dilute it even more as the ice melts.

Agua de Jamaica - Hibiscus Tea {Only 3 Ingredients!} - Isabel Eats (5)

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4.80 from 15 votes

Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)

servings: 8 servings

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Prep: 0 minutes minutes

RESTING TIME: 5 minutes minutes

Cook: 10 minutes minutes

Video

Ingredients

▢ 8-10 cups water, plus more to taste
▢ 1 1/2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
▢ 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more to taste

Instructions

In a small pot, add 4 cups of water and the dried hibiscus flowers. Bring to a boil over high heat.
Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Remove from heat, uncover and let it cool down for 5 more minutes.
Pour the tea through a strainer or colander into a large pitcher that holds at least 8-10 cups. Discard the used used hibiscus flowers.
Add the granulated sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Add the remaining 4 cups water and stir to combine.
At this point, taste the tea and add more sugar and/or dilute it with more water until it's to your liking. Some people like it super sweet, some like it super strong, it's up to you!
Serve in a glass filled with ice and enjoy!

Notes

To make one cup of tea at a time – Follow steps 1-4 to make the hibiscus tea concentrate, except instead of pouring the concentrate into a pitcher, pour it into a glass container that holds 4 cups (like this mason jar). Grab a drinking glass and fill it 1/3 of the way up with concentrate and another 1/3 of the way up with water. Mix in 1 teaspoon of sugar at a time until the sweetness is to your liking. Fill the cup with ice and enjoy. Store the remaining concentrate in the fridge.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1cup, Calories: 24kcal (1%), Carbohydrates: 6g (2%), Protein: 0g, Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 0mg, Potassium: 0mg, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 6g (7%), Vitamin A: 700IU (14%), Vitamin C: 59.4mg (72%), Calcium: 0mg, Iron: 19.8mg (110%)

Author: Isabel Orozco-Moore

Category: Mexican

Kim
December 24, 2023

I really appreciate this recipe. I’ve made it twice, but will continue using it. This time I used panela to sweeten it, and it works. Yum!
Reply
Michal
November 19, 2023

This recipe is perfect exactly as described. I’m keeping a pitcher in my fridge!
Reply
Aida
August 2, 2023

Can’t wait to try the aguas! I think we still have some watermelon left.
Reply
Wendy
July 12, 2023

Hi thanks for listing the nutritional value. I just bought a package and it lists no information all the way down.
My son always makes it for me when I go to Florida.
I am in New York and having hard time with this heat. So I’m gonna try it .
Reply
Donald Willson
May 2, 2023

I made the agua de jamaica. Tasted just like what my Nana always gave us to drink when I was growing up. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply
See Also
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus-Drink) - Mexico In My Kitchen
Dennis
November 8, 2022

This was a beautifully written article. I happened to see dried jamaica sold at a Mexican market and couldn’t resist buying some. But when i got home, I realized I had no how to brew it. I am very glad I came across this post. I particularly like the explanations on various adjustments. Thank you!
Reply
Juan
June 25, 2022

In my 71 years on this planet I’ve drank this every summer of my life so far. I do make it a bit different as I like a bit of lime juice in mine. It’s also a excellent tonic and good for the liver I am told. The bruja who lived down the road told me so as a boy. It was sooooo good on a hot summer 110-115 summer day in the Imperial Valley.
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  June 27, 2022
  Hi Juan! Thanks for sharing, we’re glad you enjoyed this recipe!
  Reply
Donna Bringenberg
June 11, 2022
I have been enjoying Agua de Jamaica for several years since going to a Mexican restaurant where the proprietress gave me the recipe…bless her heart.
Reply
Gerardo Rodriguez
January 13, 2022

Hi Isabel,
I just tried your Agua de Jamaica and it’s delicious!. I just didn’t know here in Ameri ca we call it Hibiscus Tea until I followed your recipe. Growing up in Mexico until my teens Agua de Jamaica was one of my favorite summer drinks, so refreshing and thirst quenching as Limonada or Agua de Pepino. Well, I’m older now (62), and still enjoying such refreshing beverages.
Isabel, I also heard that drinking Agua de Jamaica helps me dissolve kidney stones so I’m gonna give it a shot okay?, I will also follow all of your recipes since chile runs in my blood like a true Mexican.
Keep cooking Isabel!
Gerardo
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  January 17, 2022
  Hi Gerardo! Thanks for using our recipes. We’re glad you enjoyed our Agua de Jamaica. It’s one of our favorites!
  Reply
Lauren Pasket
November 13, 2021
Where can I get hibiscus flowers? I want to grow my own.
Reply
1. Ana @ Isabel Eats
  January 17, 2022
  Hi Lauren! I’m not really sure. You might try your local nursery, or the landscaping section of your local home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
  Reply
Penni
October 19, 2021
Hi Isabel
I was looking for a Jamaica recipe and found your site. Do you think this can be made in a water infuser pitcher instead of boiling in water? Would you increase or decrease the hibiscus flowers for that?
Also you’ve got some other great recipes that I’m going to try. Carnitas and the Avocado salad will be first.
Thank you.
Reply
Chris Diaz
July 25, 2019

@isabeleats
I make Hibiscus tea every day. Since I am a diabetic, I do not add sugar, but I sub 1-2 cups of diet tonic water for 1 or 2 cups of water in the pitcher plus add a cinnamon stick and a half lemon or lime. Very refreshing! My friends always requests my Hibiscus tea when over for dinner.
Reply
1. Judit
  March 23, 2021
  Hi, when you say cup ?. What do you mean a small cup or glass size.
  I need to drink it to help lower blood pressure.
  Thanks
  Reply
  1. Helen
    April 18, 2021
    
    this is a nice basic concentrate. i’d recommend adding the sugar to taste while cooking the concentrate so the sugar can emulsify into the hot water. i’d also recommend serving with lime.
    Reply