Dried Hibiscus Tea

By
Saad Fayed
Saad Fayed
A restaurateur and food writer, Saad Fayed has published hundreds of recipes and articles about Middle Eastern cuisine.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 08/11/21
Tested by
Carrie Parente
Carrie Parente
Tested by Carrie Parente
Carrie is a freelance food stylist and culinary producer who loves having a table full of guests.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Steep: 24 hrs
Total: 24 hrs 5 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Yield: 8 cups

Hibiscus tea is made from dried hibiscus petals and has been consumed for thousands of years. It is easy to make, and you can serve this tea hot or cold. You steep the flowers in boiling hot water for a few minutes to make tea (and chill it to make iced tea), this method allows you to enjoy the full flavor of hibiscus. Plan ahead, since you'll need to start brewing the tea a day or two ahead of time.

Hibiscus has a fruity, tart flavor and a bright red color. The sugar in this tea recipe helps balance out the tartness of the flowers, but it can be left out, or reduced if desired. Additional flavorings can easily be added to this recipe if you like.

When cooking with dried flowers, especially hibiscus, remember that it will stain. It will stain clothes, countertops, containers, and more bright red if you're not careful. Keep this in mind when you are planning to make hibiscus tea.

Dried Hibiscus Tea

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"This is an especially fun tea to drink because of its color, not to mention those delicious antioxidant benefits. Easy to make, though it takes a day or two to steep so plan accordingly. Hibiscus is quite tart so you could add a sweetener of your choice or even a splash of apple juice." —Carrie Parente

Dried Hibiscus Tea Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers

  • 1 cup granulated sugar, or to taste

  • 8 cups water

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Dried Hibiscus Tea ingredients

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  2. Sift through dried flowers for stems and discard. Place dried hibiscus flowers in cold water and allow to sit for 1 to 2 days, or until the color has faded from the flowers.

    Place dried hibiscus flowers in cold water

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  3. Strain the tea through a fine sieve and discard the strained flower pieces.

    Strain the tea through a fine sieve and discard the strained flower pieces

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  4. Add the sugar and stir until dissolved.

    add sugar to the hibiscus tea

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  5. You can either heat the tea up on the stovetop or in the microwave and serve hot; or serve chilled as iced tea.

    Dried Hibiscus Tea in a glass

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Tips

  • Hibiscus flowers can sometimes be found in health food stores, bulk bins, or Middle Eastern markets. You can also order dried flowers online.

Recipe Variations

  • Add lemon wedges or pieces of orange zest ​to the flowers to add some citrus flavor.
  • Add a cinnamon stick or slices of ginger to the flowers for a lightly spicy kick.
  • Swap the sugar for honey or agave for a slightly different flavor and make it refined sugar-free.
  • For a different and fun twist, add some cold soda water.

How to Store

  • You can store any leftover hibiscus tea in the refrigerator for up to five days.

What Can Hibiscus Flowers Be Used For?

These beautiful flowers cannot only be eaten raw, or used to make tea; but are used to make sauces to drizzle on cakes or ice cream, in marinades, gelatins, or meringues.

Can You Dry Your Own Hibiscus Flowers?

If you have enough hibiscus plants and want to try drying your own flowers, it's not that hard. Simply place the petals, and only the petals, on a drying rack—preferably in a dry, warm, and sunny spot. It can take up to one week for them to dry completely. Or, if you have a dehydrator, use that to dry them.