Nothing beats a refreshing cold herbal tea! This cold brew tea: berry hibiscus recipe features berries and hibiscus for a light and floral, thirst-quenching treat.
This summer, berry hibiscus cold brew tea has been a “go to” beverage for me. Not only is it refreshing, I also am able to stay hydrated.
One of the ways that I love to enjoy my berry hibiscus cold brew tea is with a little lemonade! I get the Kirkland brand from Costco, but really any brand will do.
Also, if you are looking for another cold brew tea flavor, be sure to check out my black tea and lavender cold brew tea recipe!
Why I love cold brew tea
Smooth: Rather then being slightly bitter, like teas that are brewed with hot water, this tea is smooth and aromatic.
Easy: If you’re anything like me, then new recipes can sometimes be intimidating! However, rest assured that this recipe is super beginner friendly and definitely fool proof.
Customizable: There’s lots of room to add some fun add-ins and/or experiment with different flavor profiles. I will elaborate more on that in a bit. 🙂
What does berry hibiscus cold brew tea taste like?
This tea is bold and very refreshing! The hibiscus gives the tea a new tangy flavor, but not too tangy because the cold brew method softens the sharpness of the hibiscus. Some other notable flavors are from the berries, think berry jam. This combination gives the tea a nice balanced flavor.
Just note that the flavor profile may slightly differ depending on if you use Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger Caffeine-Free Herbal Tea Bags or a similar blend of loose leaf tea.
Is berry hibiscus tea healthy?
Cold brew tea certainly seems to have some positive health benefits! For example, Vitamin C seems to be more active in this type of tea. Additionally, it can contain Vitamins D and B Complex.
For more info. click here!
Is hibiscus healthy?
The main ingredient in this particular tea recipe is hibiscus. Like me, I’m sure that you will be pleasantly surprised to know that hibiscus contains the following: antioxidants (beta-carotene, Vitamin C, and anthocyanin).
Additionally, hibiscus helps lower blood pressure and fight inflammation.
Want more info. on hibiscus? Click here!
Ingredient Variations for cold brew tea
Tea blends: I like to use a blend of loose leaf tea that I buy in store locally. It’s a berry blend with hibiscus. However, the Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger or Red Zinger could work too. You could even do the Lemon Zinger in a pinch!
Sweetener: The beauty of making this yourself is that you choose the sweetener. I personally like honey, but feel free to use something like maple syrup or granulated sugar. Just be sure to really mix the tea well. Maple syrup and honey like to settle to the bottom of the container.
Fruit Add-ins: I like to thoroughly wash and then slice up mandarins or lemons to add to my pitcher of tea while it is steeping in the fridge. You could do other fruits too such as: lime slices, raspberries, strawberries, orange slices, or blueberries.
Lemonade or sparkling water: I love adding lemonade to my berry hibiscus tea. In fact, whenever I add in lemonade, I don’t have to add in any additional sweetener. Sparkling water is another fun way to enhance your berry hibiscus tea as well. Plain sparkling water or even one that’s lemon, lime, or orange flavored would taste delightful with this tea!
How much caffeine is in berry hibiscus tea?
This tea is actually caffeine free! Perfect for children or those sensitive to caffeine.
I also love to have a refreshing beverage after a long, hot day. And this tea is perfect because I find myself sensitive to caffeine, especially after 3 or 4 in the afternoon. So this berry hibiscus cold brew tea really is a great way to wind down at the end of the day.
Equipment needed for berry hibiscus tea
Large glass jar or pitcher- I like to use one that’s around 32 fluid-ounces. Can be with or without a lid.
Measuring spoons
Stirring spoon
Fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth- optional, if you are using loose leaf tea instead of tea bags
Ingredients
4-6 cups of filtered water
Sweetener of choice to taste
Sliced fruit- optional, see “ingredient variations” above
Lemonade- optional add-in
How to make berry hibiscus cold brew tea
First, add tea bags or loose leaf tea to a clean jar or pitcher. Add in any fruit slices if desired.
Next, fill the water to the top of the jar or pitcher and place it in the fridge for at least 12 hours.
After at least 12 hours, remove cold brew tea from the fridge. Stir the tea and add in any desired sweetener.
Pour the hibiscus cold brew tea into tall glasses over ice. Add lemonade to taste if wanted and enjoy!
How to store berry hibiscus tea
Keep the berry hibiscus cold brew tea refrigerated and enjoy within 3-5 days of brewing. Avoid leaving cold brew tea out of the fridge for too long.
Additional FAQ’s and tips
Is this drink child friendly? Yes! This tea is caffeine free making it a wonderful choice for children!
Can I make a big batch of this? Of course, I suggest getting a drink dispenser and then adding more tea leaves or tea bags depending on how big the dispenser is. Tea bags might be easier to work with if you don’t want to have to strain out all of the tea leaves. Add in some sliced fruit and lemonade or sparkling water for a fun twist.
Can I speed up the process? To speed up the process, while keeping the flavor of the tea strong, you’d have to boil the water. You certainly can do it this way, but the tea will not longer be cold brew.
Cold Brew Tea: Berry Hibiscus
Equipment
- Large glass jar or pitcher- I like to use one that’s around 32 fluid-ounces. Can be with or without a lid.
- Measuring Spoons
- Stirring spoon
- Fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth- optional, if you are using loose leaf tea instead of tea bags
Ingredients
- 4-6 cups of filtered water
- Sweetener of choice to taste
- Sliced fruit- optional see “ingredient variations” above
- Lemonade- optional add-in
Instructions
- First, add tea bags or loose leaf tea to a clean jar or pitcher. Add in any fruit slices if desired.
- Next, fill the water to the top of the jar or pitcher and place it in the fridge for at least 12 hours.
- After at least 12 hours, remove cold brew tea from the fridge. Stir the tea and add in any desired sweetener.
- Pour the hibiscus cold brew tea into tall glasses over ice. Add lemonade to taste if wanted and enjoy!
This looks perfect for summer!!
This looks delicious and so refreshing! I also love that bright red color. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This sounds so refreshing! I have tried a hibiscus drink some years back and loved it. Cannot wait to try this one!
Yummmm. And so pretty! I like hibiscus anything!