Easy Iced Hibiscus Tea

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Most iced hibiscus tea is a bit too sharp - almost a puckery tartness without the right balance. But this recipe get's it right. It's still bright and refreshing, but has a smoother, more rounded flavor, that makes you want to drink the whole glass - not just take a few sips. The difference comes down to a few tweaks I made — like steeping the hibiscus tea with a slice of fresh orange and a pinch of salt — which naturally softens the acidity and brings out that deeper cranberry-like flavor. This is the drink of summer that blows your basic iced tea out of the water!

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: beverage

Servings: servings

Calories: 12kcal

Author: Allie Petersen

Ingredients

4 cups water
1/3 cup dried hibiscus flowers
pinch of salt
slice of an orange see notes
1-3 tbsp maple syrup or granulated white sugar

Optional Garnish

mint
fresh fruit

Instructions

Add 4 cups of water to a medium pot over the stove. Add your hibiscus leaves and bring it to a boil. *Make sure hibiscus leaves get submerged.
Once it's boiling turn it down to a simmer (should still see some small bubbles). Add a pinch of salt and your slice of orange (if using - see note).
Simmer it for about 10 minutes.
Once your tea has simmered for 10 minutes, turn off your heat and add in your sweetener of choice. You can use granulated sugar, maple syrup, honey, agave - whatever you like!
I recommend starting at 1 tbsp and going up from there based on your preference. Make sure to stir it really well to get it to dissolve in the warm water.
Strain your carefully to remove the leaves and orange slice.
Let it cool in the fridge or on the counter before pouring over ice. Garnish with a mint leaf if you'd like! Enjoy!

Notes

Hibiscus tea is naturally very tart, and if you want your tea to be more balanced, I recommend adding a slice of orange as your tea simmers. This will take out that "bite" in the tea when you sip it. If you like that tartness, don't add the orange.

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