How to make Hibiscus Tea + its Benefits
on Feb 21, 2018, Updated May 24, 2023
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Learn how to make hibiscus tea which has some amazing benefits. Make this with either fresh or dried flowers and choose to have it as a hot cup of tea or as hibiscus iced tea because either way it’s delicious and really good for you!
We have a pretty big hibiscus tree in our new garden and everyday we get a few hibiscus flowers. Combined with the hibiscus in our neighbor’s garden there is a LOT of hibiscus. Not complaining because it makes the most delicious hibiscus tea.
I ended up posting how to make hibiscus tea on Instagram stories yesterday and the response was incredible. So many people suggested other ways to use hibiscus which is edible and has a variety of health benefits.
So obviously, I had to write down everything I’ve found out about this superfood and share it with you.
My favorite part of brewing a pot of hibiscus tea at home is the color of course. It has a gorgeous deep pink hue that’s hard to beat. And so perfect right now because afternoons here are getting warmer and a chilled glass of this is super welcome.
We have an amma who comes to help us and she’s the one who got started us on this. She saw us collecting a bowl of the flowers and was so excited to show us what we could do with it. So far we’ve made a fabulous hibiscus hair mask which works as a conditioner and this tea. She prefers it hot with honey and a squirt of lime juice but I’m all about the hibiscus iced tea. I mean who can resist when it looks like this?
What is Hibiscus?
Hibiscus is a flowering plant found in parts of the world with warm and tropical climates. These plants are known for their colourful and large flowers. In fact, there are so many species of Hibiscus, the flowers come in all shapes, sizes and colours.
It grows beautifully in India because of our climate. While most commonly used as a decorative element, these flowers also offer culinary and medicinal uses.
There are far too many species of the Hibiscus plant, the most popular variety however is Hibiscus sabdariffa which is what we use. These come in plenty of colours such as white, yellow, pink, orange, red etc. The pink and red coloured flowers are most commonly used for culinary purposes.
What parts of the hibiscus are edible?
We recommend you only eat the petals. The stamen (includes anther and filament), calyx (the green base attached to the stem), the pistil (includes the stigma, style and ovary) and the pollen are discarded and not used for cooking. Some authors do suggest the pistil can be used as it is edible.
Benefits of including Hibiscus Tea in your Diet
The hibiscus plant is known to have a number of medicinal properties making it a safe and healthy addition to your everyday routine. Like all herbal teas, this quick and easy to make Hibiscus tea also offers a wide range of benefits:
- Lowers blood pressure – reduces risk of heart disease
- Super rich in antioxidants – helps protect your cells and prevents damage from free radicals
- Immunity booster – stimulates T cells and B cells
- Lowers cholesterol – hibiscus tea helps reduce blood fat levels
- Helps with period pains – also decreases hormonal imbalance
- Removes toxins from body – improves liver functions
But it can also have some side effects.
Side Effects of Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus Tea can affect oestrogen levels which means that it has an effect of both pregnancy and fertility. If you are trying to become pregnant or are pregnant, you should probably avoid hibiscus in your diet. It also lowers blood pressure which can be harmful if you already suffer from low blood pressure.
With anything that has medicinal properties, its really important to see if it works for you. Something that I’m slowly learning while we live here in Auroville. We eat a lot of healthy, local ingredients now and people around us are happy to tell us more about them.
Don’t be afraid to try this out because it’s incredibly easy to make and you can make it with both fresh or dried flowers. If you don’t have access to fresh one, dried hibiscus flowers are easily available online.
Love Tea? Try Out These Recipes:
How to make Hibiscus Tea + its Benefits
Ingredients
- 2 cups Fresh Hibiscus Flowers, or 1/2 cup dried Hibiscus Flowers
- 8 cups Water
- 1/4 cup Honey, add more if you like your tea sweeter
- 3 tablespoons Fresh Lime Juice
Instructions
- If using fresh hibiscus flowers, remove the calyx or the green part at the base of the flower to which the stem is attached. You can also remove the pistil which is the thin thread like tube in the middle of the flower which has pollens attached to it or you can choose to keep it. You don't need to do this if you are using dried flowers.
- Bring the hibiscus flowers and water to a boil in a large pot. Once the water starts boiling, switch off the flame and cover the vessel. At this point, you can also add other herbs or add ins such as basil, lemon grass, lemon zest etc. Let the tea steep for 15-20 minutes. Mix in the honey and lime juice till completely combined. Strain the tea.
- You can either serve hibiscus tea warm or you can chill it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours. Either way it tastes delicious!
Notes
- Add Ins: You can add some of your favorite flavors to this tea. Basil, lemon grass, lemon zest and mint all taste really nice with hibiscus
- Sweetness: We prefer our tea moderately sweet but feel free to add more honey or even replace it with sugar if you like
- Do not steep the petals for too long as this will make it bitter tasting.
- Honey can be substituted with sugar or jaggery.
- Tea can be served hot or cold depending on your preference
Nutrition
You can also find dried hibiscus at local farmers markets and Caribbean grocers.
Hello! Can we use tea bags of Hibiscus?
Thank you!
Sure you can!
Muchas gracias por tu receta y por enseñar la manera de usar las flores frescas. Tengo un hibiscus de flores dobles de color rosa. Quisiera saber si es posible usar las flores frescas para rellenarlas con carne y cocinar en el horno, como se hace con las flores de zapallo.(Thank you very much for your recipe and for teaching how to use fresh flowers. I have a pink double hibiscus flower. I would like to know if it is possible to use fresh flowers to fill them with meat and cook in the oven, as is done with pumpkin flowers.)
I have no idea Rosa. I’ve never tried to do that with hibiscus flowers.
All hibiscus flowers are edible, just take out the stamen and pistils. However, I’m not sure how they’d hold up to cooking. Squash flowers work so well because they’re like a little pouch, while hibiscus petals aren’t usually fused together.
I like hot tea,but ice lemon red tea is so good.
I have made this recipe and love it. How long will the concentrate last in the refrigerator? I read it only lasts 3 days with the recipe I tried. I live alone and when you dilute it 1 part concentrate to 3 parts water, again according to the recipe I tried, it will last more than 3 days. You do not mention diluting it in water, so you drink the concentrate steeped in the pot? My recipe called for the same as yours 2 cups flowers to 2 quarts of water.
Thanks
Hey Toney, we drink this as is and don’t dilute this
Please help me. I have a cranberry hibiscus plant and every time I use this method to make tea, it comes out green, bitter, and stinky. What am I doing wrong?
If it’s a roselle, you want to use the calyx, not the actual flower.
I like your recipe, however, I must highlight that drinking cold Hibiscus Tea helps lowering BP. While drinking Hibiscus hot Tea may increase BP.
Thanks for sharing that Sandra!
Hello,
I grew up drinking hibiscus tea or actually water drink as Jamaican water that in Spanish it’s called ” Agua de jamaica” my whole childhood, the only thing that yes my mom what boil dried tea flowers with enough water deluded with more water and sugar just about maybe five years ago that’s what I started drinking hibiscus tea warmed just with honey and I fell even more in love with it as a tea, now one thing I did not know that this tea had many benefits now my mother suffers from HB and this is something I want to tell her to start drinking cold as I just saw and one of the comments got a few drink it hot it’s not good but drink it cold and yes it is good for HB, now one thing but I did see and please I asked anyone that could please answer my question oh, it says that it does help with weight loss now the question is how do I drink this for weight loss how cold or hot? And also do I just drink it plain with or without sweeteners for weight loss? Thank you very much for this information.
I used my French press. Filled my electric kettle while water is getting to a boil I Put dried hibiscus flowers into the empty press. Doubled the dried hibiscus to make a concentrate since press only holds 4 cups.The press has the filter in the lid so what could be easier. After steeping it. Pressed it delicately, let it cool, then poured it into a gallon container to go in frig. Can add honey while still hot or later. French press clean up is sooooo easy.
Wow! Didn’t know this could work in a french press. Thanks for sharing Shirley. We’ve found a new way to make hibiscus tea today, thanks to you!
I just discovered this. Bought some dried hibiscus and made 2 cups dried with 8 cups of water and one cinnamon stick. I made it in my Instant Pot pressure cooker set for 3 minutes, NR. Came out very strong and had to dilute with more water. Added honey to taste. Very refreshing.
Thanks for sharing Lily!
Very good.
I added fresh ginger and lemon to mines.
My granny always said “if you’re making herbal teas,always use an odd number of ingredients.Never an even number”.
Maybe its superstition but I trusted her. So i stick to that.😊
She was a wise woman.
Next time I’m gonna make it the “island way” with cloves and spices. They call it Sorrell.
Grannys are always the wisest. Those sound like good additions!!