Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea) (2024)

Today I will guide you through the art of crafting the perfect Agua de Jamaica — a yummy hibiscus flower drink that’s a symphony of tart sweetness, a burst of floral and citrusy deliciousness, and an ode to the rich tapestry of Mexican flavors.

Imagine taking a stroll through the bustling streets of Mexico, where the sun’s warm embrace and the vibrant colors of the mercado beckon you to explore. As you wander, a large glass beehive-shaped jar of crimson elixir catches your eye.

This, mi amigos, is the enchanting hibiscus drink known as Agua de Jamaica – a delectably refreshing cold hibiscus tea that captures the very essence of Mexico in every sip.

What is Agua de Jamaica?

First, let’s get the pronunciation straight: jamaica is pronounced (ha-MIKE-ah) — not Jamaica, the Caribbean Island. Agua de jamaica (which translates to “hibiscus water” in English) is perhaps the most popular variety of agua fresca. It’s a refreshingly bright Mexican drink that you’re sure to love.

This hibiscus iced tea is delightful, tangy, and gorgeously crimson-hued, and the flavor is sweet-tart with a subtle floral undertone. Think of it as the Mexican version of sweet tea.

To make it, we steep dried hibiscus petals in hot water, infusing it with their rich, tart flavors and lovely color. Then, we sweeten it with a touch of sugar or honey and, if you’re in the mood, add a hint of cinnamon for extra depth.

This hibiscus drink is incredibly versatile and is my family’s go-to drink, and is a fantastic base to make a Hibiscus Margarita.

Why You’ll Love This Agua de Jamaica Recipe

If a sweet-tart thirst-quenching drink sounds like something you’d like, Mexican jamaica water is absolutely for you. Aside from yielding a pitcher of a stunningly gorgeous and slurp-ably delicious refresher, this hibiscus tea recipe is also:

• Quick & Easy – You only need about 5 minutes of active time to make a batch.
• All-Natural – Unlike most bottled drinks on the market, this iced hibiscus tea is made with only 3 simple ingredients — including water!! It’s something you can feel good about serving to your family, plus if your kids are anything like mine, they’ll LOVE it!
• Versatile – Whether you enjoy it on its own with ice or use it as a canvas for your mixology experiments, one thing is certain: you’re going to love this jamaica drink recipe!

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this Mexican hibiscus drink. See recipe card below for the full recipe.

• Dried Hibiscus Flowers – While they’re easy to find at your local Latin supermercado or online, you likely won’t find these dried flowers at a typical grocery store. If you’re in a pinch, look for plain hibiscus tea bags instead.
• Granulated Sugar – For sweetness to balance out the tart flavor of hibiscus. Feel free to swap in the sweetener of your choice (e.g. agave nectar or honey) and adjust the amount you use to suit your taste.
• Water – If possible, use filtered water for the best taste.
• Ice – Again, use filtered water if possible.
• Mint Leaves – While totally optional, I love the bright pop of color and the subtle minty flavor a fresh sprig adds to my glass.

How To Make Mexican Hibiscus Tea

This jamaica drink recipe is SO SIMPLE. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Rinse and drain the dried hibiscus flowers in a large colander.
2. Steep. Bring water to a boil in a pot. Add the flowers and cover tightly with a lid. Remove from the heat and steep for 10 minutes.
3. Strain jamaica water into a pitcher and discard flowers. Add sugar and stir. Refrigerate until time to serve.
4. Taste tea, and add more sugar or dilute with water to your liking.
5. Serve. Ladle into a tall glass filled with ice and garnish with fresh mint leaves or lime slices (optional).

Watch my video to learn how to make Agua de Jamaica —it’s seriously so easy!

Optional Variations

As much as I love this simple hibiscus tea recipe, there are plenty of ways to make it your own. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Lower Sugar. Traditional Agua de Jamaica is fairly sweet, but you can control the sweetness by adding a bit less sugar. Bear in mind that adding ice to the tea in the end will take away some sweetness, too. Alternatively, swap in a zero-sugar option like Truvia Sweet Complete.
• Spiced. If you want a little bit of warmth to play off the sweet tart flavors, add a canela (cinnamon) stick to the hibiscus petals for steeping. Cinnamon hibiscus tea is easily one of my favorite hibiscus hot drinks!
• Make Hibiscus Paletas. You can freeze some of the mixture in popsicle molds for a deliciously refreshing treat!
• Make Jamaica Margaritas by mixing hibiscus agua fresca with tequila, lime juice, and a drizzle of agave.

Expert Tips & Tricks

• Serve this traditional Mexican te de jamaica in a vitrolero (glass barrel jar) or beverage dispenser filled will ice or feel free to store and serve in a pitcher.
• Garnish with mint leaves, lime slices, or a cinnamon stick for an added boost of flavor and flair.

Storage Instructions

Refrigerate hibiscus drink in a covered container, such as amason jarin the fridge for 5 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Authentic Mexican Drink Recipes

• Horchata
• Agua Fresca de Pepino – Cucumber Lime Cooler
• Pineapple Cooler – Agua de Piña
• Agua de Sandia
• Spiked Aguas Frescas

Have you made this agua de jamaica? Rate the recipe and leave me a comment below to let me know how it turned out!To get more Muy Bueno recipes delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for my email newsletter.

Photography byJenna Sparks.
Originally published: March 2011.This recipe is also published intheMuy Bueno cookbook.