Agua de Jamaica, also known as hibiscus tea, is a popular and refreshing beverage, especially in Mexico and other parts of the world. It is made from dried hibiscus flowers, water, and a sweetener. Its vibrant color and sweet-tart flavor make it a delightful alternative to sugary drinks. Some suggest that Agua de Jamaica can help with weight management as it speeds up your metabolism due to its laxative properties. However, it is important to note that an overall nutrient-dense clean diet is key to weight loss. There is no magic powder or potion that does the trick. Avoid overly processed foods and drinks and focus on feeding your body lots of nutrients. Instead of drinking soda pop, you can substitute it with unsweetened or lightly sweetened Agua de Jamaica. For more flavor and health benefits, you can also infuse this agua de jamaica with a little cinnamon.
What is Agua de Jamaica?
Agua de Jamaica is a type of agua fresca (fresh water) beverage popular in Mexico, made by combining dried hibiscus flowers, sweetener, and water. It has a vibrant, ruby-red color and a sweet, tart flavor. It is traditionally made by steeping the hibiscus flowers in hot water, straining them out, adding sugar, and chilling the mixture.
Other Names for Hibiscus Tea
The drink made out of the flowers of Hibiscus sabdariffa has many regional variations and names: it is known as bissap in Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea and Senegal; wonjo in the Gambia; zobo in Nigeria; sobolo in Ghana; foléré, dabileni, tsobo, siiloo or soborodo in different parts of Africa; karkadé in Egypt, Sudan, Lebanon and Italy; sorrel in the Caribbean; and agua de Jamaica in Mexico. In Panama, both the flowers and the drink are called saril (a derivative of the English word sorrel). In Thailand, most commonly, roselle is prepared as a cold beverage, heavily sweetened and poured over ice, similar to sweetened fruit juices. In Italy, hibiscus tea, known as carcadè or karkadè (from the Arabic word كَرْكَديه [karkaˈdiːh]), is usually consumed hot, often with the addition of sugar and lemon juice or orange slices.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Tea
This refreshing beverage can offer numerous health benefits. Studies show that hibiscus can lower blood pressure, making it a great choice for those looking to improve their cardiovascular health. Clinical trials using teas, infusions or decoctions of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces most consistently report modest reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure in pre- or mild-to-moderate hypertensive adults, with effects varying by dose, preparation and baseline pressure. Evidence for other outcomes is mixed. Some tea trials report decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides or increases in HDL-cholesterol, small improvements in fasting glucose or postprandial glycaemia, slight short-term weight loss in older adults, uricosuric and diuretic effects, and increases in antioxidant capacity with reductions in inflammatory mediators, whereas other studies are null. Tea preparations are generally well tolerated.
Additional Benefits
Apart from the benefits mentioned, Agua de Jamaica can be easily made with low or no sugar, so it can fit into a healthy lifestyle. Furthermore, it can be prepared in 15 minutes or less. That makes it a great summer drink to cool you off when the heat arrives.Hibiscus flowers contain antioxidant compounds called anthocyanins. These compounds give red, blue, and purple berries and other foods their vibrant color and have all kinds of health properties.
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Hibiscus Cinnamon Tea
Sweet, tart, and deliciously spiced, this easy Hibiscus Cinnamon Tea recipe is one of my favorite ways to hydrate. Hibiscus has a bright, tart flavor like cranberries, which pairs perfectly with cinnamon’s warmth. While I used to make it exclusively in the colder months, I’ve found that this homemade hibiscus tea makes a great substitute for soft drinks in the summer. It’s similar to agua de jamaica, but with cinnamon!
Benefits of Cinnamon
Cinnamon has been shown to help lower cholesterol; protect against heart disease; boost brain activity and help with memory loss; fight yeast infections; treat stomach ulcers; alleviate gas, nausea, and indigestion; increase blood circulation; help with cell regeneration; reduce the risk of colon cancer; treat bad breath; and more.
Ingredients for Hibiscus Cinnamon Tea
Despite all the healthy compounds in this beverage, you only need a few ingredients to make hibiscus tea at home.
- Dried Hibiscus Flowers - These fragrant, dark magenta flowers may go by other names like jamaica (“ha-MAY-kah”), sorrel, China rose, rose of Sharon, or roselle depending on where you shop.
- Canela Sticks - Also known as “soft cinnamon,” “true cinnamon,” or “Mexican cinnamon,” this warming spice has a less astringent flavor than regular cinnamon sticks.
- Water - If possible, start with filtered water for the purest taste and to avoid chemical additives in tap water
- Honey - Optional, but delicious for adding sweetness.
How to Make Hibiscus Cinnamon Tea
Making this hibiscus tea with cinnamon is a snap.
- Steep: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a pot. Add the cinnamon sticks and flowers and cover tightly with a lid.
- Strain the hibiscus-cinnamon tea into a pitcher.
- (Optional): Sweeten the tea to taste with honey, sugar, or the sweetener of your choice.
- Serve immediately, or refrigerate until ready to serve. I like to serve both hot and iced hibiscus tea with lemon or lime wedges and honey on the side.
Making Agua de Jamaica
Making Agua de Jamaica is a very simple process that requires only a short amount of time. To make this delicious drink, simply bring water to a boil, then add hibiscus flowers (flor de Jamaica), and a sweetener of your choice. Stir to ensure the flowers get wet and don’t just sit on the surface of the boiling water. Bring it to a low boil and let it simmer for 1-2 minutes. Cover the pot and remove it from the heat and let it steep for about 10 minutes. After it has cooled, strain the concentrate into a large mason jar or pitcher then add 3-4 more cups of water. It’s that easy! Enjoy this sweet and tart drink as a refreshing alternative to soda. You can also customize it to your liking by adding additional ingredients like honey or other sweeteners.
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Ingredients
- Hibiscus flower - Hibiscus flower is a type of flower that is found in tropical and semi-tropical climates, and it is popular all around the world. You find it in many Mexican or Hispanic grocery stores or in Asian stores near the spices or dried chilies.
- Sweetener - in order to let the hibiscus shine in this beverage I recommend using a sweetener without a strong flavor of its own. Honey and maple syrup can be pretty overpowering.
Flower Ice Cubes
If you remember the night before, make some special flower ice cubes by placing one hibiscus flower into each compartment of your ice cube tray, fill with water and let freeze overnight.
Serving and Storing
You can serve and enjoy cold hibiscus tea in any glass and warm hibiscus tea in any cup or mug. I prefer using transparent glasses, cups, or mugs. If you have a long-handled pot with a spout, it’s your best bet for making hibiscus tea because you’ll have to pour it through a strainer. Use any type of strainer or colander to separate the flower petals from the tea.
Store it in an airtight bottle in the fridge. If you have limited space in the fridge, don’t mix the tea concentrate with all the water at once but rather mix 1:4 ratio in a glass every time. Agua de Jamaica or just the concentrate last in the fridge for up to 5 days. You can however also freeze it.If you have leftovers beyond the week, try freezing them into pretty pink ice cubes, adding hibiscus flowers for extra flair.
Precautions
Hibiscus can have adverse interactions with acetaminophen (Tylenol) and some prescription drugs. Due to high levels of phytoestrogen, it may also impact hormonal birth control medications.
People taking chloroquine, a medication for malaria, pregnant women or breastfeeding women, or people with blood pressure problems or diabetes should not drink hibiscus tea.
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Zobo Drink
Zobo is a local beverage in Nigeria. Zobo is made by boiling the hibiscus leaf alongside ginger, garlic for less than an hour. It can be served hot or chilled . Other ingredients used in making zobo include nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, lime, pineapple and artificial colours. The solids are removed with a sieve leaving behind the zobo juice. This is the major ingredient used in making zobo. Zobo drink is also known as hibiscus tea, hibiscus drink and roselle drinks because the beverage drink is gotten from hibiscus leaves. Also it is known as local Chapman since other fruits and artificial colours are added.
Preserving Zobo
Sodium benzoate at a concentration of 0.1% or mixture of citric acid and magnesium sulfate are the chemical compounds used in preserving zobo drink for a longer time and make it carbon-free.
Additional Tips
- When using fresh hibiscus flowers, remember to clean them well before making them into tea. Remove the stems, leaves, and seed pods and use only the petals. Use around four times as much as you would if you’re using dried petals.
- To dry your own hibiscus flowers, remove the stem and stamen from each flower, and cover them with a muslin cloth, placing them on a drying rack for a few days in a well-ventilated area. Store your dried flowers in an airtight jar.
- In general, you can enjoy one to two cups per day to enjoy the flavor and health benefits without risking overconsumption. Ask your healthcare professional if you have concerns about your personal situation.
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