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How to Brew Hibiscus Tea

If you've never brewed hibiscus, the first thing you'll notice is the colour — a bold, ruby-red liquor that looks almost too good to be natural. The second is the flavour: naturally tart and zesty, somewhere between cranberry and pomegranate. Hibiscus is lovely hot, but it truly shines when you brew it and chill it for a sensational iced tea. Here's how.

Tea By The Bay Organic Hibiscus loose leaf tea

What You'll Need

  • 4 heaped teaspoons of loose leaf hibiscus flowers — we use our Organic Hibiscus Tea, which is 100% pure certified organic hibiscus and nothing else
  • 1 litre of water
  • Honey or sugar, to taste
  • Optional extras: fresh lemon or lime, a few mint leaves, sliced orange, or fresh ginger
  • A jug, a strainer and plenty of ice

The ratio: our standard brew is 1 heaped teaspoon per 250–300ml of boiling water. For iced tea we double it, because the ice will dilute the brew.

Two Ways to Brew It

1

Hot Brew

20 minutes

The classic way, ready in about 20 minutes:

  1. Brew it double strength. Add the 4 heaped teaspoons of hibiscus to 500ml of boiling water. Infuse for 5 minutes — a little longer if you want deeper colour and more tartness.
  2. Sweeten while hot. Hibiscus is naturally tart, so most people enjoy it lightly sweetened. Stir honey or sugar into the hot brew so it dissolves completely. Start with 2 tablespoons per litre and adjust.
  3. Strain and cool. Strain out the flowers, then add the remaining 500ml of cold water to bring the temperature down quickly.
  4. Serve over ice. Fill glasses with ice, pour, and finish with a slice of lemon or a sprig of mint.
2

Cold Brew

overnight

Cold brewing takes longer but produces a smoother, less tart glass — worth trying if you find hot-brewed hibiscus too puckery.

  1. Add 4 heaped teaspoons of hibiscus to 1 litre of cold water in a jug.
  2. Refrigerate for 8–12 hours (overnight is perfect).
  3. Strain, sweeten to taste with a simple syrup (sugar dissolved in a splash of warm water), and serve over ice.

Variations Worth Trying

Hibiscus + ginger: add a few slices of fresh ginger to the hot brew for a zingy edge.
Hibiscus lemonade: mix the finished iced tea 50/50 with homemade lemonade — spectacular colour, crowd favourite.
Sparkling hibiscus: top a half-glass of strong chilled hibiscus with soda water.
Cocktails and mocktails: that ruby-red liquor makes a vibrant base — try strong chilled hibiscus with soda, lime and mint for a stunning mocktail, or add it to your favourite gin or vodka mix.
Iced tea cubes: freeze leftover hibiscus tea in ice cube trays and use them to chill the next batch without diluting it.
Tea By The Bay Organic Hibiscus loose leaf tea

Organic Hibiscus Tea

Beyond the colour and flavour, hibiscus is naturally caffeine-free — a genuine all-day, all-ages drink for the whole household. Our Organic Hibiscus Tea is hand-picked, pure dried hibiscus flowers, certified organic, with no added flavours or colours. Everything in the glass comes from the flower itself.

It keeps well too: brew a big jug on Sunday and it will stay fresh in the fridge for 3–4 days, ready to pour all week. Free shipping on orders over $75, Australia-wide.

Shop Organic Hibiscus Tea