Hibiscus Tea

What Is Hibiscus Tea?

Hibiscus tea is made from the dried calyces (the fleshy, deep-red cups around the flower) of the hibiscus plant Hibiscus sabdariffa, also called roselle. It isn't a "true" tea from the Camellia sinensis plant; Hibiscus sabdariffa is brewed as a herbal tea, or tisane, with no caffeine. The same flowers are brewed as agua de Jamaica (flor de Jamaica) in Mexico and Central America, bissap in West Africa and karkadé in Egypt, and consumed hot or iced with sugar, lime juice, ginger, cinnamon or other spices.

Egypt is one of the best-known sources of dried hibiscus flowers. Two of the pure hibiscus teas in this collection name it on the brand's own page: Culinary Teas sources its hibiscus petals there, and Loose Leaf Tea Company lists the Nile River Delta and Fayoum.

Hibiscus Tea Styles in Our Collection

Pure Hibiscus Flowers

A single-ingredient tea is the clearest way to taste the flower: deep crimson, tart and lightly sweet. For loose dried hibiscus flowers, look at Culinary Teas Hibiscus Herbal Tea (Egyptian petals the brand describes as "tangy, floral, subtle sweetness"), Loose Leaf Tea Company Organic Hibiscus Herbal Tea and Nepal Tea Hibiscus Herbal Tea, a certified organic hibiscus tea from Nepal. If you'd rather skip the strainer, Harney & Sons Hibiscus comes in individually wrapped teabags.

Hibiscus and Rose

Rose petals and rosehip soften the tartness into something rounder and more floral. Tea with Tae Hibiscus Rose blends hibiscus with rosehip, elderberries and cornflower in pyramid sachets, and the brand calls it "sweet, tart, and floral." Beach House Beachcomber adds rose petals, fennel and star anise for a gentle, spiced herbal tea.

Berry and Fruit Hibiscus Blends

It is the backbone of many fruit tisanes because it brings color and a cranberry-like tang. Piper and Leaf Briar Patch Brew pairs it with blueberries, blackberries, elderberries and currants. Culinary Teas Bingo Blueberry and Apricot Supreme lean sweeter. Smith Teamaker Big Hibiscus Blend No. 24, which Smith calls "the cabernet of hibiscus teas," adds Indian sarsaparilla, ginger, rose and elderflower. For a warming cup, Harney & Sons Organic Hibiscus Ginger brings "tart notes of ginger and hibiscus."

Iced and Cold Brew Hibiscus

It keeps its color and tartness when chilled, so hibiscus iced tea makes an easy, striking pitcher. Culinary Teas Hibiscus Revive comes in 1-gallon iced tea bags, and Tea with Tae Caribbean Cooler mixes hibiscus with mint and ginger in pillow bags made for pitchers. Beach House Cascadia Cooler is made for cold brewing in the fridge; Beach House describes "hibiscus and citrus notes with a delightful kick of cinnamon."

Hibiscus with Green or Black Tea

A few blends add tea leaves, so they contain caffeine. Danfe Hibiscus Green Tea pairs Himalayan tea leaves with whole hibiscus flowers, Culinary Teas Pomegranate Hibiscus Green Tea uses a Sri Lankan base, and August Mojave blends Egyptian hibiscus and sour cherry with a small amount of smoked black tea for a smoky, fruity cup.

Shop Hibiscus Tea by Brand

Because we carry it from many makers, you can compare styles side by side and check out in one cart.

Hibiscus Tea Bags vs. Dried Hibiscus Flowers

Tea bags and sachets are the easy route: no measuring, no strainer, and a consistent cup at the office or on the road. Dried hibiscus flowers (loose leaf hibiscus tea) give you more control. When you purchase dried hibiscus loose, you can brew a mug, a pot or a whole pitcher from one bag, adjust the strength, and mix in mint leaves, ginger or citrus peel yourself. Many teas here come both ways; browse all loose leaf tea or tea bags if you prefer one format.

What Does Hibiscus Tea Taste Like?

Hibiscus tea has a tart, fruity flavor, a lot like unsweetened cranberry juice, with a floral, slightly sweet finish and a deep red color. It is delicious hot and just as good enjoyed iced. Its sharpness is why a spoon of honey, a squeeze of lime juice or a cinnamon stick is such a common match. In blends, apple, rose, berries and rooibos round off the tartness. For a deeper dive, read what hibiscus tea tastes like.

How to Make Hibiscus Tea

Hot Hibiscus Tea

To make hibiscus tea as a hot tea, use boiling or just-off-the-boil water and give the dried flowers time. Culinary Teas suggests 1 to 2 teaspoons of its hibiscus petals at 205–212°F for 5 to 7 minutes. Nepal Tea recommends 2 grams per 8 oz at 210°F for 5 minutes, and Harney & Sons steeps one teabag in a 6–8 oz cup at 212°F for 5 minutes.

Piper and Leaf goes longer with Briar Patch Brew: 7 minutes for a 10–12 oz mug. The longer it steeps, the more tart the cup.

Iced Hibiscus Tea

To make hibiscus tea by the pitcher, start with a hot brew. For a gallon, Culinary Teas steeps one Hibiscus Revive bag in a quart of boiling water for 5 minutes, squeezes the bag, then adds 3 quarts of cold water; refrigerate the finished pitcher right away (40°F or below) and drink it within 2 to 3 days. Tea with Tae steeps a Caribbean Cooler pillow bag in a quart of hot water for 5 minutes, adds a quart of room-temperature water and chills it. For more ideas, see our guide to making iced tea.

Hibiscus Iced Tea Recipe (Agua de Jamaica Style)

This simple homemade recipe makes about a quart, a refreshing pour for a hot summer day. Use any pure dried hibiscus from this collection.

• 1/2 cup dried hibiscus flowers
• 4 cups water
• 2 to 4 tablespoons sugar or honey (optional, to taste)
• Juice of 1 lime
• A few sprigs of fresh mint and ice for serving

Bring the water to a boil, take it off the heat, add the flowers and let them steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Strain, then stir in sugar or honey while the tea is still warm so it dissolves, and add the lime juice. Chill it in the refrigerator, then pour over ice and add mint sprigs. Enjoy it within 2 to 3 days. For a spiced version, add a cinnamon stick or a few slices of fresh ginger while it steeps.

Cold Brew Hibiscus Tea

It also cold brews well. Beach House suggests about 1/2 oz of Cascadia Cooler in 32 oz of water, left covered in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 hours, then strained. Our guide on how to make cold brew tea covers the basics.

Benefits of Hibiscus Tea

Hibiscus has been part of traditional drinks from West Africa to Mexico for generations, and researchers have taken an interest in it too. Much of the interest in the benefits of hibiscus tea starts with its color: the deep red comes from anthocyanins, natural plant pigments with antioxidant activity. The calyces also naturally contain vitamin C and other polyphenols, though the amount of vitamin C left in a brewed cup varies.

Of the possible health benefits of hibiscus, blood pressure has drawn the most research attention, and other studies, including animal studies, have looked at cholesterol and liver health. Most of this work is small, early or based on concentrated hibiscus extract rather than a brewed cup, so it doesn't translate directly to your mug.

More research is needed, and hibiscus tea is an enjoyable drink, not a way to treat high blood pressure or any other condition.

If you have questions about hibiscus and your health or any medication, ask your doctor before consuming hibiscus regularly. Read more about the benefits of hibiscus tea in our guide.

Hibiscus Tea FAQ

Does hibiscus tea have caffeine?

Pure hibiscus tea has no caffeine, because the hibiscus plant doesn't produce any, which makes it an easy evening cup. Blends that add green or black tea do contain caffeine: Danfe estimates its hibiscus green tea at about 20–30 mg per 8 oz cup. Each product page lists the caffeine level, and you can shop all caffeine-free teas.

How long should you steep hibiscus tea?

About 5 minutes in boiling water is the usual starting point; the brands here recommend 5 to 7 minutes, and Piper and Leaf steeps its berry blend for 7. A longer steep makes the tea darker and more tart, so adjust to taste. Blends with tea leaves need cooler water and less time; Danfe suggests 185–190°F for 3 to 4 minutes.

When is the best time to drink hibiscus tea?

Any time of day. With no caffeine in pure hibiscus, many people drink it in the afternoon or evening, as a hot tea in winter and iced in summer. Its tart flavor also works alongside meals, much like a glass of lemonade.

How much hibiscus tea can you drink a day?

There is no official daily amount, and most people simply enjoy a cup or two. If you have health questions, your doctor can tell you what makes sense for you.

Can you drink hibiscus tea while pregnant?

If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, ask your doctor or midwife before drinking hibiscus tea or other herbal teas.

Is hibiscus tea acidic?

Yes. It is naturally acidic, which is where its tart, cranberry-like flavor comes from. If it tastes too sharp, steep it for less time, add more water or ice, sweeten it lightly, or choose a softer blend with apple, rose or rooibos.

Want a short list first? See our picks for the best hibiscus tea, or keep exploring rose tea, iced tea and the full herbal tea collection.