Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea is a refreshing drink that’s perfect for hot afternoons when you want something cool, fruity, and a little different from your everyday glass of iced tea. It’s one of my favorite drinks on my Easy Drink Recipes page, and it’s easy to make ahead for backyard cookouts, holiday celebrations, or simply keeping a pitcher in the refrigerator.
This strawberry hibiscus tea recipe is a refreshing twist on traditional iced tea. The homemade strawberry syrup balances the naturally tart hibiscus tea, creating a lightly sweet drink that’s easy to customize to your taste.
This homemade strawberry hibiscus iced tea has made Georgia’s hot summer days much more tolerable. I can’t believe I waited so long to share this recipe because it’s been one of our favorite summer drinks for years. I’ve shared my Sparkling Hibiscus Iced Tea before, and I still love that recipe, but this version has become one I make all summer long. I also love the deep pink color. It looks so refreshing on the table next to a Summer Charcuterie Board.
Typically I drink my tea unsweetened or with a little honey; however, I’ll happily drink this strawberry hibiscus tea a little sweet. The homemade strawberry syrup is plenty sweet for me, but I know Southerners (and plenty of others) enjoy a sweeter glass of tea, so I’ve included options to adjust the sweetness to your taste.
Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
In the summer, I drink gallons of iced tea in all different flavors. I usually prefer herbal teas over black tea, unless it’s a tall glass of Thai Iced Tea. I’m also not usually a fan of tea with lemonade, although my Copycat Passion Tea Lemonade is an exception. My favorite, though, has to be hibiscus tea. It has a naturally tart flavor that pairs perfectly with fruit, making it the ideal base for this recipe.
This strawberry hibiscus tea recipe starts with a homemade strawberry syrup made with fresh strawberries, sugar, and water. After simmering on the stovetop until thickened and richly colored, it’s combined with freshly brewed hibiscus tea for a drink that’s lightly sweet and full of flavor.
The hibiscus tea takes only about 10 minutes to brew, including the steeping time. Once it’s ready, simply stir in the strawberry syrup, add fresh lemon juice, and adjust the sweetness if you’d like. This recipe makes a little more than half a gallon, making it perfect for sharing, but it’s also easy to cut in half when you only need a smaller batch.
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What is Hibiscus Tea?
Hibiscus tea is made from the dried calyces of the hibiscus flower rather than traditional tea leaves. When brewed, it turns a beautiful ruby-red or deep magenta color and has a naturally tart, slightly floral flavor that’s a little different from black or green tea. Since it’s naturally caffeine-free, it’s a refreshing choice any time of day.
While many people enjoy hibiscus tea on its own, it’s also delicious paired with fruit. In this recipe, the strawberry syrup balances the tea’s natural tartness without overpowering its unique flavor. You can find hibiscus tea in tea bags or as loose tea at most grocery stores and many Asian or Mexican markets. These are the hibiscus tea bags I usually order from Amazon, and one box lasts me quite a while.
Timesaving Tips and Variations
Once you’ve made this recipe, it’s easy to put your own spin on it. Here are a few simple tips and variations to help you customize each pitcher.
- Use frozen strawberries. Fresh strawberries give the best flavor, but frozen strawberries work well, too. Just thaw them before making the strawberry syrup.
- Use a heat-safe pitcher. If you’re pouring the hot tea directly into your pitcher, make sure it’s designed to handle hot liquids.
- No family-size tea bags? Substitute nine regular-size hibiscus tea bags instead. The flavor will be the same once they’re brewed. I like this brand when I can’t find the larger tea bags.
- Sweeten it your way. Start with the strawberry syrup, then taste before adding extra sugar. You can also sweeten the tea with honey or your favorite sugar substitute.
- Try a different berry. Blackberries, raspberries, or blueberries all make delicious variations of this recipe while pairing beautifully with hibiscus tea.
- Add fresh mint. A few sprigs of fresh mint make a simple garnish and add another layer of refreshing flavor.
- Freeze leftover tea into ice cubes. Instead of regular ice, freeze some of the tea in ice cube trays so your drink stays flavorful as the ice melts.
- Make a smaller batch. This recipe makes a little more than half a gallon, but it’s easy to cut the ingredients in half if you’re serving fewer people.
With just a few simple changes, you can make this recipe exactly how you like it. It’s an easy drink to experiment with and enjoy all season long. Have fun making it your own.
What to Serve with Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
Whether you’re planning lunch on the patio or a backyard cookout, these recipes make delicious additions to the menu.
- Easy Strawberry Poke Cake
- Hawaiian Wings
- Deviled Egg Charcuterie Board
- Lemon Streusel Muffins
- Creamy Bacon Tomato Pasta Salad
This iced tea would be perfect to sip on after a long day or to serve at a fun summer party, like the Fourth of July! If you’re not a tea person but love strawberry-infused drinks, you must try this strawberry lemon water recipe.
This post may contain Amazon or other affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. For more information, see my disclosure policy.
Recommended Kitchen Tools to Make Iced Tea
You don’t need any fancy equipment to make this recipe, but a few basic kitchen items make the process quicker and easier. Here are the ones I use most often:
CAROTE Nonstick 1.5Qt & 3.0Qt Sauce Pan Sets with Lid, White | Kitchen Non Toxic Cookware with Stay-cool Handle, All Stovetops Compatible, Dishwasher Safe, PFOA Free
Drinking Glasses with Bamboo Lids and Glass Straw 4pcs Set – 16oz Glass Cups, Iced Coffee Glasses, Cute iced Tea Glasses, Beer Glasses, Ideal for Coffee Bar Accessories, Aesthetic Gift – 2 BrushesPurefold 80 Oz Glass Pitcher with Lid, Heat Resistant, Water Glass Jug | Iced tea, juice, milk, coffee, water pitcher. Heat resistant 0–300°F. Dishwasher safe. BPA free borosilicate glass.Stainless Steel Fine Mesh Strainers, Set of 3 Sizes Strainer for Kitchen, Wire Sieve with Insulated Handle Kitchen Strainer, Baking Tools Colander, Food Preparation, Flour Sifter, Rice, Pasta StrainerDOQAUS Ice Cube Tray with Lids, 4 Pack Silicone Ice Trays for Freezer | Stackable BPA & LFGB Safe, Easy Release for Kitchen, RV, Cocktail, Coffee, Soup & FoodPrimula Stewart Whistling Tea Kettle for Stovetop, Stainless Steel Stove Top Kettle with Fast Boil Whistling Spout and Cool Touch Folding Handle, 1.5-Quart, Brushed Silver with Black HandleMason Jar Pitcher, 64 oz (2 quart), Glass Pitcher with Lid | Airtight, Leak proof, Ergonomic Handle, Pour Spout Lid, Fridge Safe, for Sun Tea, Iced Tea, Cold Brew, Lemonade, OutsidePyrex 4 Cup Glass Measuring Cup For Baking and Cooking | Preheated oven, dishwasher, freezer, and microwave safe
I like to have all the equipment out before I begin making this recipe so that I don’t have to stop in the middle of a step.
Ingredients to Make Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
You only need a handful of ingredients to make this strawberry hibiscus tea. If you’ve never bought hibiscus tea before, don’t worry; it’s become much easier to find in most grocery stores. The exact ingredient amounts and step-by-step instructions are in the recipe card below.
For the Strawberry Syrup
- Fresh Strawberries – Adds fresh berry flavor and natural sweetness to the tea.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the syrup while helping create its rich consistency.
- Water – Simmers with the strawberries to create the homemade syrup.
For the Hibiscus Tea
- Hibiscus Tea Bags – Gives the tea its signature tart flavor and beautiful ruby-red color.
- Water – Used for brewing the tea and combining the finished drink.
- Granulated Sugar (Optional) – Add more if you prefer a sweeter glass of tea.
- Fresh Lemon Juice – Brightens the flavors and balances the sweetness.
- Ice – Keeps the tea perfectly chilled for serving.
- Fresh Strawberries and Lemon Slices – Optional garnishes that add a fresh finishing touch.
How to Make Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
Make the strawberry syrup. Simmer the strawberries, sugar, and water until the berries are soft and the syrup has developed a rich color. Strain the syrup into a large pitcher and discard the solids.
Brew the hibiscus tea. Steep the hibiscus tea bags in hot water for about 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. Sweeten the tea if you’d like a sweeter finished drink.
Combine the ingredients. Pour the brewed hibiscus tea into the pitcher with the strawberry syrup. Add the cold water and fresh lemon juice, then stir until everything is well combined.
Chill the tea. Refrigerate the tea until it’s thoroughly chilled. This gives the flavors time to blend together before serving.
Serve and enjoy. Fill glasses with ice, pour the tea, and garnish with fresh strawberries and lemon slices if desired.
A great drink deserves something delicious to go with it. Take a look at my Easy Appetizer Recipes for easy favorites that are perfect for snacking.
Strawberry Hibiscus Iced Tea
Equipment
- medium saucepan
- heatproof glass measuring cup
Ingredients
For the Strawberry Simple Syrup
- 3 cups sliced strawberries
- 2 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
For the hibiscus iced tea
- 3 family-sized Hibiscus tea bags
- 3 cups water
- ½ – 1 cup sugar (see note about sweeteners)
- 8 cups COLD water
- 1 lemon, juiced
- Ice
- strawberries and lemon slices for garnish
Instructions
To Make the Strawberry Simple Syrup
- In a medium saucepan add the strawberries, 1 cup sugar and 2 cups of water. Give it a stir and cook over medium high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.
- Reduce heat and let simmer for 30 minutes, or until strawberries are soft and the liquid is a deep red color.
- Using a mesh strainer, strain the strawberry syrup into a large pitcher. Using the back of a spoon, press down on the fruit to get the juice out, but not too hard. Set aside.
To Make the Hibiscus Tea
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil in the microwave. Carefully remove the container from the microwave and add the 3 family sized hibiscus tea bags to the water. Let it steep for 5 minutes, then remove the tea bags. If you're wanting to make this a sweeter tea, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of sugar and stir well. *Note: I did not add more sugar as I prefer my iced teas more on the unsweetened side. The strawberry syrup was enough sweetener for me. If you prefer a sweet iced tea, start with ½ cup of sugar and taste. Add more if needed.
- Pour the hot tea into the large pitcher with the strawberry syrup. Add 8 cups of cold water and the juice of one lemon. Stir well. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours.
- To serve: fill glasses with ice, pour the tea and garnish with strawberries and lemon wedge. Don't forget the straw!
Notes
- Frozen strawberries can be used to make the simple syrup but thaw first.
- If you can’t find the family-size hibiscus tea bags, use 9 of regular-sized tea bags. I like this brand.
- When sweetening the hibiscus tea, start with the least amount of sugar and taste. Add more if needed.
- You can also use honey or stevia in place of the sugar, just be sure to add a little and taste first.
- Try this iced tea recipe with blackberries, or other berries like blueberries. Raspberries are delicious in this recipe, too.
- If making this for only a few people, you can half the recipe. OR, pour some of the tea into ice cube trays and freeze. Add them to your iced tea so it doesn’t get watery.
Nutritional Disclaimer
“Blogghetti” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
2024 Alphabet Challenge – “I”
In updating this post, I am sharing it in the 2024 Alphabet Challenge in which fellow foodies will share recipes with the letters of the alphabet. Twice a month, we will bring you two letters – recipes that either start with the letter or the main food in the recipe starts with that letter. Today is the letter “I” and I am sharing this refreshing drink recipe with you. Look at all the recipes for the 2024 alphabet challenge! Here is what the others are sharing:
- Sneha’s Recipe: Instant White Dhokla
- Mayuri’s Jikoni: Iceberg Wedge Salad
- A Day in the Life on the Farm: Instant Pot Bean and Smoked Pork Soup
- Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Italian Beef Sandwiches
- Culinary Cam: I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Saffron-Cardamom Ice Cream
- Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Italian Pane di Genzano
- Magical Ingredients: Instant Aloo Paratha
- Palatable Pastime: Indonesian Bami Goreng
- Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice: Orange & Feta Italian Orzo Pasta Salad
- Food Lust People Love: Orange & Raspberry Rhubarnb Ice Cream
Enjoy!
I have made hibiscus simple syrup for making iced tea but I have also used it for making Hibiscus Margaritas.
I love the flavor of hisbiscus tea. Adding strawberry syrup takes it to another level.
What a wonderful colour both the strawberries and hibiscus tea impart. Can’t wait to try out this iced tea recipe during summer. It is still cold where I am.
What a great recipe. Especially considering it’s almost strawberry season!!!