|
22
Mar
|
Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)Posted by Muy Bueno
 15 comments » |
Jamaica is pronounced (Ha-mike-ah) — not Jamaica, the Caribbean Island. In Mexico, agua de jamaica is served like we serve and drink iced tea in America. Its gorgeous ruby red color is enticing enough and once you add some ice cubes, this refreshing tea will taunt you to no end.
Spring is in the air and this light and thirst quenching drink is a nice change after all those heavy and thick winter drinks – it’s a welcoming change. My kids love this drink too; it’s like kool-aid for them.
My mom says it’s a great diuretic and drinks it often using a sugar substitute.
Ingredients
2 cups dry jamaica/hibiscus flowers
3/4 cup granulated sugar (more if desired)
6 cups water
Ice
Mint leaves (optional)
Directions
Rinse and drain the dried jamaica flowers in a large colander. Bring the water to a boil. Add the flowers and sugar and stir continuously while the mixture boils for one minute. Careful not to boil the tea too long or your tea will have a slightly bitter aftertaste. Remove from the heat and steep for 2 hours. Let the tea cool, and then strain it into a pitcher. Refrigerate until time to serve. Ladle into a tall glass filled with ice and garnish with fresh mint leaves (optional).
Ahhhh, refreshing!
Photography by Jeanine Thurston
This sound so refreshing. It looks like the passion ice tea at Starbucks. Where would I begin to look for dry jamaica/hibiscus flowers? xo
muybuenocookbook replied: — March 23rd, 2011 @ 9:02 am
You can usually find dried hibiscus flowers near the loose teas in natural food stores. Or try a Latino food market. They are so worth the scavenger hunt — Good luck!
I will have to make this very soon. I’ll have to find where I can get the dry flowers
For those of you who have limited options in your communities you can always mail order it here: http://store.gourmetsleuth.com/jamaica-dried-1lb-P253.aspx
I love this… I first had Agua de Jamaica last summer in L.A. Had never heard about it before then, so delicious and refreshing! How would you describe the taste? I’d say, it reminds me of a less intense, less sweetened fruit punch. Thanks so much for the recipe and the link to purchase online.
muybuenocookbook replied: — March 24th, 2011 @ 11:48 am
YES, very much a fruit punch! Soooo naturally refreshing~ AND it tastes great naturally without sugar too!
Almost every restaurant in Mexico serves iced cold jamaica. It is so refreshing on a hot day. It is also usually too sweet for our taste, so we order one glass and one water, and pour them back and forth until they are both equally diluted. Ahhh…. I could drink one right now.
Kathleen
muybuenocookbook replied: — April 4th, 2011 @ 10:32 am
I so agree Kathleen! I always order mine with extra ice, so that it waters the tea down. Now I’m craving a warm summer day. We had 80 degrees on Saturday and then it snowed all day yesterday. Crazy Colorado weather!
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction to look for the tea. xo
Agua de Jamaica brings back so many great memories of vacationing in Mexico. You know those hot summer days, walking to la plaza and cooling off with a big glass of agua de jamaica. Looks gorgeous!
Refreshing and easy to make. Will definitely want some jamaica on the first hot day (hopefully soon).
Sara, it was so great to meet you! Hope to see you soon! Sooo love your cute logo!
Pingback: Zoku Quick Pop Maker Giveaway « Muy Bueno Cookbook
I drank this a lot in Guatemala and it is like drinking pure sunshine. I grow hibiscus plants at home now and use the flowers for this tea. It’s also really nice to add fresh fruit like strawberries , blueberries, and raspberries to the iced tea. A perfect summer drink!
Muy Bueno replied: — May 29th, 2012 @ 10:14 am
I bet that is super refreshing–I will definitely try that! Thank you Larissa!