Agua de Jamaica

Refreshing and incredible easy, this hibiscus flower tea is perfect for a hot summer day or just to quench your thirst any day of the year! Perfect to wash down some yummy tacos too 😉

If you’ve ever been to Mexico you probably have experienced, or at least seen, the street vendors selling aguas frescas from their carts. Typically they can be seen with a cart full of vitroleros, a very large container, with all kinds of different aguas frescas: lime, horchata, cantaloupe, and jamaica just to name a few. They are all so good, refreshing, and easy to make yourself!

Agua de jamaica is a traditional Mexican drink made from dried hibiscus flowers and you can find it at almost any Mexican restaurant or food stand where aguas frescas are sold. Agua de jamaica is well known for its deep red color and tart flavor, very much resembling cranberry juice. Once the flowers are steeped, just add sweetener of choice, pour over ice, and enjoy!

Making agua de jamaica reminds me of my mom who would always make a large pitcher of it and it was all easily gone by the end of dinner. She hardly ever sweetened the entire pitcher and instead let us sweeten to taste. The sweetener possibilities are endless: sugar, honey, agave, stevia, etc. Now, there’s nothing wrong with sweetening the entire pitcher, do whatever your little heart desires!

Where can you find hibiscus flowers, you ask? If you have a local Mexican market I would suggest you look there. Easiest option would be ordering online. Here is one kind I found with great reviews and good price. This is also another option with great reviews and a good price. Please keep in mind that in this recipe you’re measuring the dried flowers in a measuring cup, not by weight. These flowers are very, very light and seriously don’t weigh a thing. With that said, one cup of these flowers isn’t a lot of flowers and it goes a long way.

This agua de jamaica is the perfect base for some delicious margaritas. Let’s be real, any excuse to make a good margarita…am I right? Just add tequila and your favorite sweetener, salt the rim of the glass, garnish with lime. BAM! Actually, go check out these Jamaica and Ginger Margaritas. They will not dissapoint. Salud!