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This homemade hibiscus simple syrup adds a refreshing, tangy, and sweet twist to lots of drinks, and it’s packed with health benefits too! My family loves this easy hibiscus syrup as a refreshing sparkling herbal ‘soda’ that I can feel good about giving them.
Benefits of Hibiscus
Hibiscus, or Hibiscus sabdariffa, are the flowers of the hibiscus plant. You can use them fresh if you grow them at home or they are easy to come by dried and have lots of uses.
Hibiscus is frequently brewed as tea and makes an excellent summertime drink because the petals can infuse cold without heat. I love it hot or cold with a little honey, and my kids ask for it too!
Hibiscus is full of antioxidants and has been shown to help lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, improve liver function and fight infection. It is also great for kids and mixes well with many other herbs (try it with lemon balm or peppermint!).
I’ve loved hibiscus tea for years, but it wasn’t until recently that I discovered how wonderful it is for your health. A few years ago I did a liver cleanse (by the Medical Medium) and hibiscus tea was recommended daily for its liver cleansing properties. It was my favorite part of the cleanse!
Hibiscus brews into a beautiful deep pinkish-red color, making it all the more fun to drink! It’s a great herb to dip your toe into herbal drinks, and this hibiscus syrup makes it even easier because it’s so tasty.
Move over elderberry syrup, hibiscus syrup is here for the summer!
How to Make Hibiscus Simple Syrup
This recipe is a basic simple syrup made with sugar and water with hibiscus flowers infused into it. It comes out SWEET, so a little goes a long way. You can use less sugar for a thinner syrup if you prefer. I like to make it thick and syrupy, and just use a bit for our homemade drinks.
You may also use honey instead of cane sugar for your infused syrup. Make sure to mostly cool your hibiscus infusion before adding the honey as to not destroy the honey’s beneficial properties.
To make hibiscus infused syrup:
- Combine equal parts sugar and water in a pan over medium heat.
2. Stir until sugar is dissolved.
3. Add dried hibiscus flowers and stir.
4. Let mixture come to a simmer.
5. Simmer for 10 minutes.
6. Remove from heat and let cool.
7. Strain flowers out of the mixture, pressing on herbs with a spoon to get complete extraction out.
8. Store in a glass jar for easy pouring.
Homemade Hibiscus Syrup
Hibiscus infused simple syrup makes a delicious addition to drinks and cocktails of all types, and its so easy to make.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 TBS dried hibiscus flowers
Instructions
- Combine equal parts sugar and water in a pan over medium heat.
- Stir until sugar is dissolved.
- Add dried hibiscus flowers and stir.
- Let mixture come to a simmer.
- Simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Strain flowers out of the mixture and store in a glass jar for easy pouring.
Notes
Store in the fridge for up to a month (if it lasts that long!)
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How to use Homemade Hibiscus Syrup
Try these delicious drink recipes made with hibiscus syrup. Or experiment and add it to your favorite drink. How about a Hibiscus Margarita?! Sounds delicious!
Sparkling Hibiscus Herbal Soda
Add 1 teaspoon hibiscus syrup to your sparkling water of choice.
This is my family’s favorite drink with hibiscus syrup – it tastes like an herbal soda!
Make it a cocktail by adding a little vodka or gin.
Hibiscus Champagne Cooler
Add a little hibiscus syrup to your champagne flute before pouring the sparkling wine or champagne into the glass.
This creates a lovely pink color and gives just a hint of extra flavor from the hibiscus. Delicious, and so fun! I made these for NYE and it was a hit.
Peppermint and Hibiscus Iced Tea
Brew some peppermint tea and let cool. Pour the tea over ice and add a teaspoon of hibiscus syrup. Stir and enjoy.
This is a super refreshing herbal tonic that’s great for summer!
Still, have questions? I’ve got answers!
Can you eat hibiscus flowers in syrup?
Yes, hibiscus flowers are completely edible and you can eat the flowers that have been infused in the simple syrup. If you use whole flowers for your infusion like these they make a lovely addition to a cocktail!
Hibiscus flowers are known to be edible flowers and make a great addition to fresh salads and other dishes too.
How long does hibiscus syrup last in the fridge?
You can store your homemade hibiscus syrup in the fridge for up to a month.
How do you get hibiscus flavor?
Making a hibiscus infusion or simple syrup (like this recipe) is a great way to add hibiscus flavor. If you’re looking to add hibiscus flavor without the sweetness, try making a strong hibiscus infusion with 1 cup of water and ½ cup of hibiscus flowers. This will give a much stronger flavor without the sugar and can be added to drinks or other dishes.
Keep in mind that leaving out the sugar means your infusion won’t keep as long in the fridge. Plan to use it within 3 days!
Where can I buy hibiscus syrup?
This recipe was inspired by these lovely infused hibiscus flowers that I was given many years ago. I adored adding them to drinks and decided to make my own. If you’d rather purchase it already made, try these: