Refreshing Strawberry Hibiscus Agua de Jamaica Recipe
A vibrant and refreshing summer drink combining tart hibiscus tea with sweet fresh strawberries, balanced with lime juice and sugar. Perfect for cooling off on warm days and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Mexican
Ingredients
- 1 cup (15 grams) dried hibiscus flowers (Flor de Jamaica)
- 1 cup (150 grams) fresh strawberries, hulled and halved
- ½ cup (100 grams) granulated sugar (or honey/agave syrup as substitute)
- 6 cups (1.4 liters) water, divided
- Juice of 1 lime (about 2 tablespoons/30 ml)
- Optional garnishes: fresh mint leaves, extra sliced strawberries, lime wedges
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring 4 cups (32 fl oz) of water to a boil. Remove from heat and add 1 cup (15 g) dried hibiscus flowers. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes until water turns deep ruby red.
- Strain the hibiscus tea through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pitcher, pressing gently on the flowers to extract flavor without bitterness.
- While the tea is still warm, stir in ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar until fully dissolved. Adjust sweetness to taste.
- Add the remaining 2 cups (16 fl oz) of cold water to the pitcher and stir well to cool and balance concentration.
- Hull and halve 1 cup (150 g) fresh strawberries and add them directly to the pitcher. For smoother texture, puree half the strawberries and stir in.
- Squeeze in the juice of 1 fresh lime (about 2 tablespoons/30 ml) and stir.
- Refrigerate the agua de jamaica for at least 1 hour to chill and allow flavors to meld.
- Serve over ice, garnished with fresh mint leaves or extra strawberry slices.
Notes
Do not steep hibiscus for more than 15 minutes to avoid bitterness. Add sugar while tea is warm for better dissolution. For smoother texture, puree some strawberries. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving. Adjust sweetness and lime juice to taste. Can substitute sugar with honey, agave, stevia, or monk fruit. Frozen strawberries can be used if fresh are unavailable. For a cocktail version, add tequila or white rum.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 oz (240 ml)
- Calories: 60
- Sugar: 14
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: hibiscus tea, strawberry drink, agua de jamaica, summer beverage, refreshing drink, homemade agua fresca, natural drink, vegan drink, gluten-free beverage