Jamaica (pronounced Ha-My-Ka) is a traditional drink in Mexico. A cold tea, made from the magenta-colored, dried flowers of the hibiscus plant, it is sold in every restaurant and every grocery store in Mexico.
I buy packages of dried jamaica flowers at my local Mexican grocery store in Aurora, and make my own. I love it’s tart, cranberry-like flavor mixed with lime juice for an extra punch.
Yield: 1 quart.
- Rinse well: 1/2 cup dried jamaica flowers
- Place rinsed flowers in saucepan with 2 cups water. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat and cool.
- Strain into a 1 quart pitcher. Return flowers to the saucepan and add: 2 cups water.
- Bring to boil. Remove and add 1 1/2 cups sugar.
- Cool. Strain. Transfer to pitcher and add 4 TBLSP (about 2 large) fresh lime juice.
- Cover and refrigerate.
Buen Provecho.