Made with only 3 ingredients, Agua de Jamaica is a sweet and tart refreshing drink made from hibiscus flowers that’s very popular in Mexico. It’s one of the most popular kinds of agua frescas and is ready in only 15 minutes!
Sweet, tart and refreshing, Agua de Jamaica is one of the most popular types of agua frescas in Mexico. Made from dried hibiscus flowers, water and sugar, it can be sweetened to your personal liking and is a flavorful alternative to soda
What is Agua de Jamaica?
Agua de Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-cah) is a hibiscus iced tea drink made from dried hibiscus flowers (or “Flor de Jamaica” in Spanish), water and sugar. The hibiscus tea is very tart and almost has a cranberry-like flavor, which is why it’s typically sweetened with sugar.
Sometimes it’s made with additional spices like cinnamon and ginger, but today we’re making the tried and true typical Mexican version you’ll find in restaurants and markets.
Where to find dried hibiscus flowers
Hibiscus flowers are fairly common in most Mexican grocery stores and can be found near the spices or dried chiles.
If you can’t find any near you, you can order them online on Amazon.
More Aguas Frescas
There are many flavors of aguas frescas made from different ingredients, including fruits, teas, and even rice! Here are some different aguas frescas to enjoy:
- Cucumber – Agua de Pepino
- Tamarind – Agua de Tamarindo
- Pineapple – Agua de Piña
- Rice and Almond – Horchata
- Watermelon – Agua de Sandia
- Fresa – Agua de Fresa
- Cantaloupe – Agua de Melon
How to make Agua de Jamaica (Hibiscus Tea)
Add 4 cups of water and 1 1/2 cups of dried hibiscus flowers to a pot. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat, uncover and let sit for another 5 minutes.
Carefully strain the mixture into a glass container and discard the hydrated hibiscus flowers.
At this point, you can store the hibiscus tea concentrate in the fridge until you’re ready to use it (see recipe card below for more info).
To make this tea into a full pitcher of a deliciously tart and sweet jamaica drink, pour the concentrate into a pitcher and add 4 cups of water and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir to combine, taste and adjust the sweetness and/or potency by adding more sugar or water if desired.
Traditionally, Agua de Jamaica is very sweet and fairly strong, but I know everyone has different preferences which is why I recommend starting with 1/4 cup sugar, 4 cups of water and then adding in more if you want it a little sweeter and/or more diluted.
And don’t forget that you’re going to serve the tea with ice, which may dilute it even more as the ice melts.
Ingredients
- 8-10 cups water, plus more to taste
- 1 1/2 cups dried hibiscus flowers
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar, plus more to taste
Instructions
- In a small pot, add 4 cups of water and the dried hibiscus flowers. Bring to a boil over high heat.
- Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove from heat, uncover and let it cool down for 5 more minutes.
- Pour the tea through a strainer or colander into a large pitcher that holds at least 8-10 cups. Discard the used used hibiscus flowers.
- Add the granulated sugar and stir until completely dissolved. Add the remaining 4 cups water and stir to combine.
- At this point, taste the tea and add more sugar and/or dilute it with more water until it's to your liking. Some people like it super sweet, some like it super strong, it's up to you!
- Serve in a glass filled with ice and enjoy!
Video
Isabel’s Tips:
Nutrition Information
Can’t wait to try the aguas! I think we still have some watermelon left.
Hi thanks for listing the nutritional value. I just bought a package and it lists no information all the way down.
My son always makes it for me when I go to Florida.
I am in New York and having hard time with this heat. So I’m gonna try it .
I made the agua de jamaica. Tasted just like what my Nana always gave us to drink when I was growing up. ¡MuchÃsimas gracias!
This was a beautifully written article. I happened to see dried jamaica sold at a Mexican market and couldn’t resist buying some. But when i got home, I realized I had no how to brew it. I am very glad I came across this post. I particularly like the explanations on various adjustments. Thank you!
In my 71 years on this planet I’ve drank this every summer of my life so far. I do make it a bit different as I like a bit of lime juice in mine. It’s also a excellent tonic and good for the liver I am told. The bruja who lived down the road told me so as a boy. It was sooooo good on a hot summer 110-115 summer day in the Imperial Valley.
Hi Juan! Thanks for sharing, we’re glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I have been enjoying Agua de Jamaica for several years since going to a Mexican restaurant where the proprietress gave me the recipe…bless her heart.
Hi Isabel,
I just tried your Agua de Jamaica and it’s delicious!. I just didn’t know here in Ameri ca we call it Hibiscus Tea until I followed your recipe. Growing up in Mexico until my teens Agua de Jamaica was one of my favorite summer drinks, so refreshing and thirst quenching as Limonada or Agua de Pepino. Well, I’m older now (62), and still enjoying such refreshing beverages.
Isabel, I also heard that drinking Agua de Jamaica helps me dissolve kidney stones so I’m gonna give it a shot okay?, I will also follow all of your recipes since chile runs in my blood like a true Mexican.
Keep cooking Isabel!
Gerardo
Hi Gerardo! Thanks for using our recipes. We’re glad you enjoyed our Agua de Jamaica. It’s one of our favorites!
Where can I get hibiscus flowers? I want to grow my own.
Hi Lauren! I’m not really sure. You might try your local nursery, or the landscaping section of your local home improvement store like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Hi Isabel
I was looking for a Jamaica recipe and found your site. Do you think this can be made in a water infuser pitcher instead of boiling in water? Would you increase or decrease the hibiscus flowers for that?
Also you’ve got some other great recipes that I’m going to try. Carnitas and the Avocado salad will be first.
Thank you.
@isabeleats
I make Hibiscus tea every day. Since I am a diabetic, I do not add sugar, but I sub 1-2 cups of diet tonic water for 1 or 2 cups of water in the pitcher plus add a cinnamon stick and a half lemon or lime. Very refreshing! My friends always requests my Hibiscus tea when over for dinner.
Hi, when you say cup ?. What do you mean a small cup or glass size.
I need to drink it to help lower blood pressure.
Thanks
this is a nice basic concentrate. i’d recommend adding the sugar to taste while cooking the concentrate so the sugar can emulsify into the hot water. i’d also recommend serving with lime.