Hibiscus Iced Tea Lime (Printable version)
A tangy, vibrant iced tea infused with hibiscus and fresh lime slices for a refreshing summer drink.
# What you need:
→ Tea Base
01 - 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
02 - 4 cups water
→ Sweetener
03 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
04 - 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup
→ Garnish & Serving
05 - 1 large lime, thinly sliced
06 - Ice cubes
07 - Fresh mint leaves
# How to make it:
01 - Bring 4 cups water to a rolling boil in a medium saucepan over high heat.
02 - Remove saucepan from heat, stir in dried hibiscus flowers, cover and let steep for 10 minutes to extract full flavor and color.
03 - Pour mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a heatproof pitcher, discarding the spent flowers.
04 - Add sugar and optional honey while tea is still warm, stirring vigorously until completely dissolved.
05 - Allow tea to reach room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour until thoroughly chilled.
06 - Fill glasses with ice cubes and lime slices, pour chilled hibiscus tea over ice, and garnish with fresh mint if desired.
# Expert tips:
01 -
- The natural tartness from hibiscus flowers creates this sophisticated brightness that hits different from ordinary iced tea
- You can adjust the sweetness to match exactly how your tastebuds want it that day
- That stunning red color makes even a regular Tuesday afternoon feel like you're at a spa
02 -
- Oversteeping makes the tea bitter and astringent, so set a timer and don't let it go past 10 minutes
- Always sweeten while the tea is still warm because sugar just does not dissolve well in cold liquid
- The flavor continues developing in the fridge, so it actually tastes better the next day
03 -
- Look for flowers that are deep red and smell slightly tart, avoiding any that look brownish or dusty
- A glass pitcher shows off that incredible color, and honestly the presentation is half the fun