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Agua de Jamaica – Sweet. Tangy. Refreshing. YES PLEASE! Think cranberry juice but three to five time better!
Most taco shops charge astronomical prices for an 8 oz container of this refreshing drink. That’s just plain insane!
You can make a full pitcher of this DELICIOUS drink for that amount at home. Let me show you how it is done.
How to Make It
Jamaica, or Ha-mai-Kah, not pronounced like the country.
In a nutshell, it’s basically hibiscus tea. You might hear it referred to as “Hibiscus Water” or “Jamaica Drink.”
Made from dried hibiscus flowers. Or in Spanish, we call it “flor de jamaica.”
More Agua Fresca Recipes:
Agua de Melon
Pineapple Agua Fresca
Watermelon Agua Fresca
Cucumber Lime Agua Fresca
- Boil water.
- Add the dried hibiscus flowers.
- Let boil for 10 minutes and turn off the heat so it can steep.
The water will concentrate and will take on a deep red color as well as a thick consistency – almost like a thin syrup.
Other Steeping Methods
- Let the flowers soak in warm water for 2 hours, and it will turn out just the same.
- Do a cold brew of the dried flowers overnight. Then take the leftover flowers for a hot brew the second batch This is a two in one bonus!
- Strain the tea.
- Using the back of your cooking spoon strain the tea into a pitcher.
- Add water.
Most of the flavor from the flowers will be used after it is steeped. Any more batches will be weak.
You can make this drink well in advance. It will be good for up to 5 days in the fridge.
Other Additions to the Tea:
Cinnamon stick
Cloves
Ginger
Mint
Great Idea! Freeze any leftovers and make ice cubes with it. Or, pour the Jamaica Water into popsicle molds for a yummy summer treat.
For my diabetic friends, you can use any sugar substitute. Or, sweeten it up with piloncillo.
There are creative uses for hibiscus like Hibiscus Beer
Some people will even use the leftover flor de jamaica for tacos. Yes! Tacos! Simply swap out the chicken in chicken tinga and instead use leftover hibiscus flower.
Drink Weight Loss
When you’ve eaten one too many tacos and your pantalones are too tight, make this drink. It is a natural laxative.
Pro Tip
This recipe will make quite a bit of concentrate. Make some that day, then leave the concentrate for another day.
Drink Benefits
- It can help high blood pressure
- It can help people with high cholesterol.
For 21+ readers, splash or two of vodka or tequila for an adult beverage.
Mexican Picadillo, Potato Tacos Dorados, or Chorizo con Papas go great with a tall glass of this yummy drink.
More Mexican Drinks:
Agua de Platano
Agua de Tamarindo
Strawberry Agua Fresca
Pineapple Banana Agua Fresca
This beverage goes perfectly with just about any authentic Mexican recipes.
Agua de Jamaica is light, just right, and easy to enjoy!
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Ingredients
- 12 cups water
- 1 1/2 cup Dried Jamaica flowers (or hibiscus flowers)
- 1 cup sugar
Instructions
- Boil 4 cups of water.
- Add the jamaica flowers.
- Return to boil for 10 minutes.
- Turn off heat and cover. Let cool.
- Strain into a pitcher.
- Press down on the flowers with the back of a cooking spoon to extract the liquid.
- Add remaining water and sugar to the pitcher.
- Stir to combine.
- Add more sugar if needed.
Video
Notes
- Let the flowers soak in warm water for 2 hours, and it will turn out just the same.
- Do a cold brew of the dried flowers overnight. Then take the leftover flowers and hot brew the second batch.
Nutrition
This post was recently updated with new pictures. You might remember the old ones.
What a delicious and refreshing drink.
Glad you enjoyed this!
I love tea in so many flavors. This is a new one I need to try, it sounds so refreshing and delicious!
Glad you enjoyed this Sue!
Refreshing and delicious
Glad you enjoyed this
This drink is so refreshing! Thanks for the recipe!
So glad you enjoyed this!
This looks really refreshing! My sons will love this Agua de Jamaica!
So glad you enjoyed this!
This is a really nice drink and fab way to drink my hibiscus tea now. Thank you for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed this! Hope you try it
This looks so delicious! Can’t wait to try 🙂
Thanks! Hope you try it
I love this refreshing drink! Thanks
So glad you enjoyed this!
I love the taste of this stuff but I have to be careful not to overdo it. 😉
It’s so good. Glad you enjoyed this!