Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea Recipe

Strawberry hibiscus iced tea is a vibrant, crimson-colored summer drink that’s sweet, tart, floral, and incredibly refreshing poured over a glass full of ice. If you’re familiar with agua de jamaica con fresas, this is essentially the same drink.

Hibiscus tea made from dried flor de jamaica (hibiscus flowers) gets mixed with fresh strawberry puree, homemade simple syrup, and a squeeze of lime juice for a drink with bold strawberry flavor and a bright citrusy finish.

The recipe makes a big 2-quart pitcher with just 5 simple ingredients: strawberries, dried hibiscus flowers, limes, sugar, and water.

The flavor is thirst-quenching like iced tea or lemonade, just with a deeper berry-like flavor from the hibiscus. Served really cold with lots of ice, this drink is hard to beat on a hot day.

Every June I go strawberry picking at a nearby farm over the border in Wisconsin, and strawberry hibiscus tea is always high on my list of recipes to make with my haul. Strawberries taste especially good at peak ripeness and pair perfectly with the tart floral flavor of hibiscus.

This strawberry hibiscus tea is naturally caffeine-free, non-alcoholic, and easy to double into a gallon for summer gatherings. It’s also a beautiful drink for Juneteenth celebrations where vibrant red drinks are traditionally served.

Why You’ll Love This Strawberry Hibiscus Tea

• The flavor is sweet, tart, and super refreshing straight over ice on a hot day
• Made with real strawberries and dried hibiscus flowers instead of syrups and tea bags
• Hibiscus has a fruity flavor that reminds me a little of cranberry, which works really well with strawberries and lime
• Easy to double into a gallon if you’re making drinks for a cookout or party
• The deep crimson color makes it look really pretty in a glass pitcher
• Budget-friendly to make during strawberry season when berries are at their cheapest and sweetest

What Does Hibiscus Tea Taste Like?

Hibiscus tea is a naturally caffeine-free herbal tea with a tart, fruity flavor that’s pretty similar to cranberry juice. It’s fruity, slightly floral, and a little tangy.

Once it’s sweetened and mixed with strawberries and lime, the flavor balances out really nicely without tasting overly floral.

Ingredients Needed

• Strawberries
• Dried Hibiscus Flowers (flor de Jamaica)
• Limes
• Sugar
• Water

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Strawberries
This recipe works best with ripe strawberries that are fully red and juicy. Color really does equal flavor here. Pale strawberries usually taste more bland and less berry-forward, which makes a big difference in a drink like this.

If strawberries aren’t in season, frozen strawberries are honestly a great backup. Since they’re picked and frozen at peak ripeness, the flavor is usually better than out-of-season fresh strawberries from the store.

Hibiscus Flowers
Look for dried hibiscus flowers or flor de jamaica. I usually find them in the Mexican foods section at the grocery store for less than $2.00 a bag, and one bag is more than enough for this recipe.

I personally don’t recommend hibiscus tea bags here. The flavor just never tastes strong enough to me unless you use quite a few of them. Loose dried hibiscus flowers give the tea a much deeper color and flavor.

Lime Juice
Fresh lime juice brightens the whole drink and keeps it from tasting overly sweet. Bottled lime juice works if that’s what you have, but fresh lime really does taste better in this recipe.

Sugar
Regular white granulated sugar keeps the flavor clean and lets the hibiscus and strawberries stand out without competing with them.

Water
Since this drink is mostly water, filtered water gives the best flavor if you have it. If not, I recommend a Brita filter pitcher for all my drink recipes.

If you want something a little more citrusy, my Hibiscus Lemonade combines tart lemon with floral hibiscus tea and tastes especially good ice cold.

How to Make Iced Strawberry Hibiscus Tea

Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.

Steep the Hibiscus Flowers

I like to start by brewing the hibiscus tea first so it can steep while I make the strawberry puree and simple syrup.

Add the dried hibiscus flowers to a heatproof container. Boil 3 cups of water, then pour 2 cups over the hibiscus flowers and let them steep for 10–15 minutes depending on how strong you want the flavor.

Set the remaining 1 cup of boiled water aside for a moment.

Helpful Tip: The longer the hibiscus flowers steep, the deeper and more tart the flavor gets. I usually let mine go the full 15 minutes because I like a stronger tea base.

Make the simple syrup

Add 1 cup sugar to a separate heatproof container and pour the remaining 1 cup hot water over top. Stir until the sugar fully dissolves, then set aside to cool slightly.

Make the strawberry puree

Wash and hull the strawberries, then slice them depending on size since they’re going into the blender anyway.

Add the strawberries and ¼ cup sugar to the blender and let them sit for about 5 minutes. The sugar helps pull some of the juices out of the berries before blending.

Add ¼ cup cold water and blend until smooth.

If you want a smoother drink, you can strain the puree through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds. Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Depends how patient I’m feeling that day.

Juice the limes

Roll the limes on the counter first to help loosen the juices, then squeeze them by hand or with a citrus juicer.

Assemble the Drink

Pour the strawberry puree into a 2-quart pitcher, then add the fresh lime juice and simple syrup.

Strain the hibiscus tea into the pitcher to remove the flowers. Add about 3 cups cold water until the drink reaches 8 cups total, then stir well.

Serve Over Ice

Fill glasses with ice and pour the strawberry hibiscus tea over top.

I don’t recommend adding ice directly to the pitcher because it melts pretty quickly and waters the drink down. Garnish with lime slices or strawberries if you want.

Strawberry Hibiscus Tea Recipe Notes & Tips

• If you prefer less sweetness, start with a little less simple syrup and adjust from there after tasting
• Some of the strawberry puree naturally settles as the drink sits, so give the pitcher a quick stir before serving again
• Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
• This recipe doubles really well if you want to make a gallon for a party or cookout

Is Strawberry Hibiscus Tea the Same as Agua de Jamaica?

Pretty much, yes.

Agua de jamaica is a popular Mexican agua fresca made by steeping dried hibiscus flowers in water and sweetening the tea, similar to my hibiscus iced tea recipe. When strawberries are added, it’s often called agua de jamaica con fresas.

This version has the same idea, just with a slightly fruitier summer twist from the fresh strawberry puree.

FAQs

Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. It actually tastes even better after chilling in the fridge for a few hours.

Can I use frozen strawberries?
Yes. Just thaw them first so they blend a little easier.

Is hibiscus tea caffeinated?
No. Hibiscus tea is naturally caffeine-free.

Can I make this into a gallon?
Yes. You can easily double the recipe to make a gallon for parties or cookouts.

More Refreshing Summer Drinks

If you like keeping a big pitcher of something cold in the fridge during summer, these are all worth trying too.

• One-Gallon Hibiscus Iced Tea
• Homemade Hibiscus Lemonade
• Fresh Strawberry Lemonade
• State Fair Strawberry Lemonade