How to Sweeten Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus tea is made from the same bright flowers often seen in the tropics. Many people like the slight tang of the tea alone, but others might want to add a sweetener to tone down the tartness. When you make hibiscus tea, you must brew the tea in hot water first. If you want iced tea, this is then chilled. Adding sugar or honey to the chilled beverage will ensure that much of the sweetener will not dissolve. Here is how to have a perfect pitcher of hibiscus tea whether you want to drink it hot or cold.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup dried hibiscus or 8 hibiscus tea bags
• 2 quarts water
• 3-quart saucepan with lid
• 3-quart pitcher
• Strainer or colander
• 3/4 cup sugar (or granulated sugar substitute) or 1/2 cup white grape juice concentrate or honey

Instructions

1. Combine the water and sweetener in the saucepan. Heat over medium-high to a boil, stirring constantly until all of the sugar, grape juice concentrate or honey is dissolved.

2. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the dried hibiscus or hibiscus tea bags.

3. Cover the saucepan and let the tea steep for 15 minutes. It should be bright red.

4. Pour the tea out of the saucepan through a strainer over the pitcher. This will catch the tea bags or dried hibiscus and let the tea flow into the pitcher.

5. Chill the tea and pour over ice, or serve hot.

Tips & Warnings

• You could use lemon wedges as a garnish for hibiscus tea.

References

• Hibiscus tea recipes