Refreshing Hibiscus Lemonade Recipe
This Hibiscus Lemonade is a thirst-quenching beverage that is sure to be a hit at any gathering. The tartness of the lemon juice combined with the floral hints of the hibiscus helps create a perfect balance, making it an ideal drink for summertime parties.
If you love making homemade lemonade then be sure to try this Peach Lemonade too!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll This Recipe
- It’s also incredibly easy to make making it perfect for parties.
- With just a few ingredients, you can create a large batch of this lemonade in no time.
- The flavors are bold and delicious, so even the pickiest of palates will love it.
- This is a fun treat to enjoy on a hot summer day.
- Hibiscus tea has many healthy benefits. According to Healthline, hibiscus tea is an antioxidant, helps break down fat in the liver, and is high in polyphenols (helps prevents cancer).
If you love fun treats like this one on a warm days than you may also enjoy this Italian Soda recipe.
Equipment Needed
You only need a few simple kitchen tools to help you make this refreshing beverage recipe.
- saucepan
- fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- pitcher and glasses
Ingredients
You only need a few simple ingredients to help you make this simple homemade lemonade recipe. All of these ingredients are easy to find at a local store.
- filtered water
- dried hibiscus flower or hibiscus tea bags – dried hibiscus can be found in Latin grocery stores Jamaica is Spanish for hibiscus.
- fresh lemon juice – you’ll need about 3-4 large lemons
- Sweetener of choice – raw honey, maple syrup, or a sugar free alternative like monk fruit are my favorite sweeteners.
How to Make Hibiscus Lemonade
Making this floral lemonade is so simple. Just follow the step by step directions below and you will have a flavorful drink in no time at all.
Step 1: Boil the water
Boil three cups of water in a medium saucepan.
Step 2: Add the dried hibiscus flowers and steep
Remove boiling water from the stovetop and add the dried hibiscus. Let steep for 5-10 minutes.
Step 3: Strain the tea
Strain the tea over a large bowl, cool and then place in the refrigerator to cool.
Step 4: Make the lemonade
In a large pitcher add the remaining 3 cups of water, and sweetener if using. Mix together.
Step 5: Add the lemonade to the tea
Once the hibiscus tea has cooled add your lemonade. Stir to combine
What To Serve With This Dish
This delicious lemonade is perfect to enjoy when you need a refreshing drink, but it also goes well at cookout when you are serving a delicious meal like this Grilled Hamburgers with a side of Grilled Globe Artichokes.
Substitutions and Additions
Here are a few ways that you can change up this lemonade recipe.
- Add a few sprigs of fresh mint to the boiling water for an extra refreshing flavor.
- If you want to save a little time instead of making a homemade lemonade you can use your favorite bottled lemonade instead.
- You can make this a low carb or sugar free drink by using your favorite sweetener, such as stevia or monk fruit.
- For a different flavor, try adding flavored tea bags, like peach or raspberry iced tea.
- If you are serving your homemade hibiscus lemonade for guests, you may want to let guests add the sweetener of their choice. Offer simple syrup to sweeten it, granulated sugar or a sugar free alternative in liquid form.
How To Store
Store the lemonade in a pitcher with a lid or glass jar in the fridge for up to five days.
Sandra’s Pro Tips
Here are a few tips to make sure that this lemonade turns out perfectly every time that you made.
- Dried hibiscus can be found in Latin stores or in some grocery stores near the Mexican spices. You could also order them online.
- If you can’t find hibiscus flowers, you can use a few of your favorite hibiscus tea bag instead to make the tea. If you are using tea bags, there is no need to strain the tea.
- Fresh squeezed lemon juice really works best for this recipe, as it gives the lemonade the best flavor. But, you could use bottled in a pinch.
- Using sugar? You may need to use warm water to get the sugar to dissolve completely. It’s best to add the sugar while steeping the hibiscus.
- I love to serve this drink in a tall glass over ice cubes on a warm day.
- If you are using a tea bags be sure to check the steep times on the box, so you know low to steep them for the best flavor.
- I like to garnish my glasses with fresh lemon wedges for a nice colorful addition.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this easy hibiscus lemonade recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Hibiscus lemonade is tart and slightly sweet. The hibiscus flowers adds a hint of floral notes which pairs deliciously with the lemon juice creating an incredibly refreshing drink.
Yes, you can make this recipe in advance. Store the lemonade in a covered pitcher or jar for up to five days in the fridge. The flavors will be even more pronounced after a few days of chilling.
No. Hibiscus is caffeine free. If you purchase tea bags make sure the hibiscus isn’t mixed with green or black tea if you want to avoid caffeine in your beverage.
Other Delicious Easy Beverage Recipes You May Enjoy
- Peach Tea – Made with fresh peaches. The ultimate spring and summer time beverage.
- Mango Dragon Fruit Refresher – A Starbucks copycat recipe made at home for a fraction of the cost when purchasing at a coffee shop.
- Sparkling Strawberry Lemonade – Refreshing drink. This is a great beverage for entertaining.
Hibiscus Lemonade Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 cups filtered water divided
- 3 teaspoons dried hibiscus flower 3 dried hibiscus flowers or 3 hibiscus tea bags
- 3/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- Sweetener of choice; honey maple syrup simple syrup, sugar free alternative like monk fruit or stevia.
Instructions
- Boil three cups of water in a medium saucepan.
- Remove boiling water from the stovetop and add the dried hibiscus or hibiscus tea bags. Let steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Strain the tea over a large bowl, cool and then place in the refrigerator to cool.
- In a large pitcher add the remaining 3 cups of water and sweetener. Mix together.
- Once the hibiscus tea has cooled add it to the pitcher with the water.
- Add the fresh lemon juice and stir ingredients.
- Serve over ice and add a slice of lemon.
Notes
Nutrition
Disclaimer
Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.
I am not a big fan of plain hibiscus tea, but adding the lemon added enough tartness to balance the floral taste. I used the tea bag option and also the suggestion for adding mint leaf. I also used agave nectar for the sweetener. Very refreshing.
Sounds very refreshing and I also love the convenience of using hibiscus tea bags.