Hibiscus Iced Tea is a bold, naturally caffeine-free herbal drink with a deep pink color and tart, fruity flavor.
It’s just as easy to make by the gallon as it is by the glass, which makes it perfect for everything from casual backyard cookouts and family dinners to holiday parties and group gatherings.
And wow, is it delicious. The flavor is bright and slightly tangy—almost like cranberry, but milder and more refreshing.
A splash of fresh lime juice adds a hint of citrus, and a little sugar rounds everything out without making it overly sweet.
I make this all the time when I want something a little different from sweet tea or lemonade. It’s especially great for serving a crowd, keeping in the fridge on hot days, or mixing into fun drinks once you’ve made a batch.
Why You’ll Love this Big-Batch Hibiscus Iced Tea Recipe
It’s super refreshing – The tart, citrusy flavor is incredibly thirst-quenching, especially when served in a tall glass full of ice.
Perfect for parties and gatherings – This recipe makes a full gallon, which means you’ll have plenty to serve a crowd without having to make multiple batches.
Looking for more big-batch drink recipes? Check out my gallon homemade lemonade and gallon sweet tea recipes!
No caffeine, all flavor – Hibiscus tea is herbal and naturally caffeine-free, so it’s a great option for kids or guests avoiding caffeine.
More affordable than store-bought – This recipe is made with just dried hibiscus flowers, sugar, limes, and water (no pricey ingredients required). If you buy the hibiscus in bulk, it’s even more budget-friendly.
Totally customizable and great for mixing – Once you see how easy it is to make a batch of hibiscus tea concentrate, you can mix it into other drinks like lemonade, limeade, sparkling water, or even cocktails for a twist on the original. If you’re craving the lemonade version, check out my Hibiscus Lemonade recipe (it’s another way to use dried hibiscus flowers.).
Ingredients
- Dried hibiscus flowers (flor de Jamaica)
- Sugar
- Water
- Limes
What to Look for When Shopping
Hibiscus – Look for dried hibiscus flowers labeled flor de Jamaica in the Mexican or international aisle of most grocery stores. If you make this often (like I do), it’s worth buying in bulk online or at Latin markets.
Limes – For limes with the most juice, choose ones that feel heavy for their size and have thin, smooth skin. The fresh lime juice adds a bright, citrusy layer that balances the tartness of the hibiscus.
Water – Use filtered water if possible for the cleanest flavor. I usually use my Brita pitcher and it makes a big difference.
Sugar – Plain granulated sugar works best here. It dissolves easily into the simple syrup and keeps the drink nice and smooth.
How to Make One-Gallon Hibiscus Iced Tea
Detailed recipe and instructions are in recipe card at bottom of post.
- Make the simple syrup – In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Heat until the sugar fully dissolves, then set aside to cool.
- Steep the hibiscus tea – Add the dried hibiscus to a large heatproof container. Boil 4 cups of the water and pour over the hibiscus. Let it steep for at least 15 minutes, until richly colored and flavorful.
- Assemble the iced tea – In a one-gallon container (like this one-gallon glass dispenser with spigot), strain the hibiscus tea and discard the solids. Add the simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and about 10 cups of cold water. Stir to combine, then chill in the refrigerator. Serve over ice and garnish with lime if desired.
Making the Simple Syrup
Making a simple syrup is super easy and is a great way to sweeten the tea without any graininess or sugar settling to the bottom.
Steep the Hibiscus Tea
To get that rich color and full flavor, you’ll steep the dried hibiscus flowers in boiling water for about 15 minutes.
Assemble in a Gallon Container
Once you’ve made your syrup and hibiscus concentrate, it’s time to bring everything together.
Recipe Notes
You don’t have to heat the simple syrup – Making it on the stove is the quickest way to dissolve the sugar, but it’s not essential. If you prefer, you can combine the sugar and water directly in your gallon container and stir until the sugar is fully dissolved. Just make sure to stir well as this can take a few minutes.
Cold brew is a great option – If you have a little more time, you can cold brew the hibiscus tea by combining the dried flowers and water and letting it steep in the fridge overnight. It saves the step of boiling the water.
Make ahead to save time – If you’re prepping for a party or gathering, you can make the simple syrup and hibiscus concentrate a day or two ahead. Just store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the full gallon.
Make extra to freeze it into ice cubes – This is one of my favorite tricks. Frozen hibiscus tea cubes are perfect for adding to the gallon container to keep the drink cold without watering it down, which is especially helpful if you’re serving it outdoors.
Try this next: If you love hibiscus, don’t miss my Hibiscus Lemonade. It’s a tart, vibrant twist that’s just as easy to make using dried hibiscus flowers.
Are hibiscus iced tea and Agua de Jamaica the same?
In reality, hibiscus iced tea and Agua de Jamaica are the same drink. Both are made with dried hibiscus flowers, water, sugar, and lime juice. But one big difference is that Agua de Jamaica is often made in even larger 5-gallon batches.
It’s commonly served from large glass containers called vitroleros, especially at parties, markets, or taquerías. The flavor and ingredients are nearly identical, though Agua de Jamaica is often made a bit sweeter, depending on personal taste or regional traditions.
More Gallon Drink Recipes You’ll Love
If you love this recipe, check out a few of my other big-batch drinks:
Gallon Hibiscus Iced Tea
This bold, refreshing hibiscus iced tea recipe makes a full gallon and is made completely from scratch using dried hibiscus flowers (no tea bags or concentrates needed). It’s also known as Agua de Jamaica and is a naturally caffeine-free herbal iced tea that’s perfect for serving a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 limes
- 15 1/2 cups water, diviided
Instructions
- Make the simple syrup – In a small saucepan, combine sugar and 1 1/2 cups water. Heat until the sugar fully dissolves, then set aside to cool.
- Steep the hibiscus tea – Add the dried hibiscus to a large heatproof container. Boil 4 cups of the water and pour over the hibiscus. Let it steep for at least 15 minutes, until richly colored and flavorful.
- Assemble the iced tea – In a one-gallon container (like this one-gallon glass dispenser with spigot), strain the hibiscus tea and discard the solids. Add the simple syrup, fresh lime juice, and about 10 cups of cold water. Stir to combine, then chill in the refrigerator. Serve over ice and garnish with lime if desired.
Notes
- You can make the simple syrup without using the stove by stirring the sugar into water in the gallon jug as a first step. Just to be sure to stir until it is fully dissolved. The stove method is just quicker.
- If you have a little more time, you can cold brew the hibiscus tea by combining the dried flowers and water and letting it steep in the fridge overnight. It saves the step of boiling the water.
- Prepping for a party or gathering? Make the simple syrup and hibiscus concentrate a day or two ahead. Just store them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the full gallon.
- Make frozen hibiscus tea cubes in advance. This trick is one of my favorties for keeping drinks cold without watering the drink down as they melt.
Recommended Products
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1 Gallon Glass Drink Dispensers For Parties, 2-Pack with Stand And Stainless Steel Spigot -
Brita Water Filter Pitcher, 6-Cup Capacity, BPA Free, White
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6PCS Reusable Glass Straw Flower Design Glass with cleaning brush
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Vitrolero Para Agua Frescas (5 Gallon Barrel Jug, BPA Free, Made in Mexico)
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Mini Plastic Barrel (Vitroleros) with Straw and Lid (16 oz., 6-Pack)
