DIY Hibiscus Tea; Make Your Own Incredible Hibiscus Tea Right From Your Garden

Yesterday my husband came in the house with 4 big hibiscus flowers that had just shriveled up but weren’t dried out enough to fall off of the plant yet. He said, “Here, maybe you could make some hibiscus tea out of these.” I all but rolled my eyes, thinking he was crazy because I was sure I would need about 50 pounds of petals to make one 8 oz. glass. Boy was I wrong! It was so easy to make and really fun because the colors change a couple of times when you make this tea. If you have a hibiscus plant (that you don’t fertilize) in your yard you could make this. I’m not kidding.

So, let’s get on to the tea making!

First, you gather up about 2 cups of hibiscus petals. This was 4 big dinner plate sized flowers and about 8 smaller ones. I only had the 4 so I called up my neighbor and asked if I could use her dried flowers that had just fallen. Sounds like a creeper, huh? I felt like a creeper. Like one of those psycho movies where people bottle up single hairs or eyelashes that fall off of the unsuspecting victims. Okay, I didn’t feel that creepy, but still, asking for dead flowers was a new one, even for me. The funny thing is, she knows how weird we are and happily obliged! Thanks neighbor!

So, the first step is to cut out all of the stigmas, which are the pretty little antenna looking things where all of the pollen germinates. I found it easiest to basically push the stigma up like I was folding it inside out and cutting it off.

Once you’ve cut out the stigmas, you’ll want to give the petals a good rinse. It’s important to clean them thoroughly to ensure there’s no dirt or tiny insects clinging to the petals. Don’t leave them in the water for too long or the color will start to seep out. After rinsing, pat the petals dry with a clean towel.

Next, bring a small pot of water to a boil. You’ll need about 3 cups of water for the 2 cups of petals. Once the water is boiling, add the hibiscus petals. Almost immediately, you’ll notice the water starting to change color. It turns a beautiful, rich crimson as the petals steep. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes.

After the steeping process is complete, let cool for a few minutes, then strain the petals out of the water using a fine sieve or a cheesecloth.

You’ll be left with a vibrant red liquid that looks almost too pretty to drink!

This is the basic hibiscus tea, which you can sweeten to taste. I prefer adding a bit of honey or agave and the juice from 2 fresh lemons or limes, which not only enhances the flavor but also changes the color of the tea once again. The acidity from the citrus transforms the deep crimson into a lighter, more pinkish hue.

Pour your tea into a glass, and enjoy it hot or cold. If you prefer iced tea, let it cool to room temperature and then chill it in the refrigerator before serving over ice. I tossed a sprig of fresh mint in the glass with the ice.

Making hibiscus tea is not only easy but also a fascinating process that showcases the natural beauty and versatility of hibiscus flowers. Plus, it’s a great way to use flowers that would otherwise go to waste. Enjoy your homemade hibiscus tea!

This tea is so delicious and easy! There are so many different colors of hibiscus! My friends had these pretty purple petals that they let me have.

I made a tea out of them as well and it tasted the same. It was odd when I was steeping them though because the color came out of the petals but the water basically turned a light grey color. Amazingly enough, I added the lime juice and all of a sudden the water turned bright pink!! This might have been my favorite part of this whole process! It was gorgeous!

Happy tea making!

Leave a comment and let me know your favorite way to make hibiscus tea 🙂