Iced Roselle Tea

Learn to turn lovely dried roselle petals into a refreshing and delicious iced tea! Iced Roselle Tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa) is easy to make and a tried and true crowd pleaser! Whether you like your tea sweet or unsweetened, you are sure to love this bright pink floral tea.

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Depending upon where you live in the world, you might call this tea, hibiscus tea, roselle tea, rosella tea, roselle water, sorrel hibiscus, or even roselle juice. (If sweetened it defiantly tastes like juice!) There are more names, but those are some of the most common.

My favorite way to enjoy this tea is iced! Typically I’m a hot tea girl, but rosella tea, in my opinion, is so refreshing when iced and with a little sweetener. There are several different methods to make this tea. Cold brewing is a favorite of mine! It’s so simple to just pour cool water over the tea petals and put it in the refrigerator to infuse. While that method is a snap, it does take a few hours, so I’ll also share how to make it the traditional way by steeping your tea in boiling water. And not to stop there, if you like a little sugar in your tea, you can learn the best time to add it for the perfect cup of tea.

Why You Will Love Roselle Tea

• Beautiful Color
• Fabulous Unique Taste
• Crowd Pleaser
• Easy To Make
• Beautiful Bright Pink Color
• Healthful
• Can be Enjoy Hot or Cold

Roselle Drink

Most people know that roselle tea is made with the hibiscus flower. What many people don’t know, however, is that it is only a specific hibiscus species, hibiscus sabdariffa, that is called roselle. The roselle plant is native to Africa but has spread to India and over Asia, and now too much of the world. Roselle plant is sweet and tart and adds much color and flavor to many drinks and dishes including jams and jellies. The red calyx is used to brighten and color drinks and dishes. It is also a popular tea and is thought to contain many health benefits.

What Does Roselle Tea Taste Like?

Roselle tea is a beverage made with the hibiscus flower. It has a tart and floral flavor that many people enjoy and can be brewed with hot or cold water. If a little sweetener is added roselle can taste like a floral juice. Known for its health benefits, roselle tea can be enjoyed cold on summer days.

Roselle Tea Benefits

Roselle hibiscus has a long history of use in herbal medicine. While there is still a need for more studies to be done, flowers and leaves have been used to treat a variety of illnesses, including fever, diarrhea, and dysentery. Roselle hibiscus is also high in antioxidants and has anti-inflammatory properties. Read more here.

This tea is known for its many health benefits. Some of these benefits include:

– Antioxidants

– Caffeine-free

– Blood pressure regulation

– Digestion support

– Cardiovascular health

– Cancer prevention

How to Make Roselle Tea

Preparing this tea is simple and follows the basic principles for making most herbal teas. If you plan to add sugar to your tea, I recommend adding it with the water. That way while your tea is steeping the sugar can dissolve. If you plan to enjoy your tea unsweetened you can just leave that step out.

Kitchen Tools 

• Tea Strainer
• Glass Pitcher with Lid

Ingredients

• Dried Whole Roselle Petals (hibiscus sabdariffa)
• Filtered Water
• Sugar (optional)

Steps for Iced Roselle Tea

1. Over medium heat, add water to the saucepan.
2. Once water is boiling add in roselle flowers and lightly stir.
3. Cover and steep for 10 minutes. (This allows the tea a strong brew that won’t be weakened when poured over ice.
4. Strain out roselle petals.
5. Add optional sugar and stir.
6. Allow the tea to cool and transfer to a refrigerator-safe container.
7. To serve, pour over ice.

Steps for Cold Brew Roselle Tea

1. Pour 4 cups of water into a refrigerator-safe pitcher with a lid.
2. Add about 1/4 cup of roselle petals. 
3. Press flowers down into the water and fasten the lid.
4. Refrigerate for about 4 hours. 
5. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• Feel free to use your favorite sweetener. Options can include honey, stevia, or maple syrup.
• Avoid the stove and try cold brewing tea. It is a simple no fuss way to make delicious tea!

Storage

Store your homemade roselle tea in a cold-safe container with a lid. Your tea will stay fresh for about 5 days if stored correctly in the fridge. If your tea turns off-color or smells bad, discard. 

Caffeine Content

Roselle tea is an herbal tea and is a caffeine-free beverage that can be enjoyed hot or cold. It has a tart flavor that many people enjoy and can be brewed with hot or cold water. This beautiful pink tea is full of flavor as well as a very healthful drink.

Conclusion

Roselle tea is a beverage made with the hibiscus flower species hibiscus sabdariffa. It has a tart floral flavor that many people enjoy and can be brewed with hot or cold water. This herbal tea is known for its health benefits and can be enjoyed cold on summer days. The flavor and taste of roselle tea are tangy and refreshing.

More Iced Tea Recipes You May Enjoy

• Iced Chamomile Tea
• Blackberry Iced Tea
• Raspberry Iced Tea
• Blueberry Iced Tea
• Peach Iced Tea
• Cold Brew Green Tea
• Cold Brew Matcha

I hope you enjoy this iced tea recipe. Leave a comment below and let’s connect! If you try this recipe, please come back and leave a review!