See our guide to boiling water for stove and microwave suggestions.
Hibiscus does not contain caffeine, so adding a lot won’t give you a sudden “jolt” of energy.
Use oven mitts and/or a tea cozy to protect yourself from burns here. Pour the water slowly and steadily to avoid splashing.
For extra caffeine, add multiple bags.
You can also simply leave the hibiscus leaves in the tea if you like. They won’t hurt you — there is no current evidence that they are poisonous in any way.
If you’re using mint, lay the leaves face-up in the palm of your hand and give them a slap by clapping your hands together. This is a technique used by bartenders in drinks like mojitos to release the flavor and aroma of the mint.
If you’re using caffeinated tea bags, cinnamon sticks, lime wedges, or mint leaves in your tea, add them now as well.
Cover the tea with foil or plastic wrap to protect it from drips and crumbs.
For presentation, you can re-garnish each glass with cinnamon, lime, etc. if you wish.
To make simple syrup, just heat equal parts water and sugar in a pan on the stove. Stir well to combine. When the sugar has completely dissolved, you have simple syrup. Continuing to heat the syrup past this point will make it thicker. Eventually, it will turn into caramel, which you probably don’t want. 1 cup of simple syrup (made from 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar) will make the tea quite sweet. 1/4 or 1/3 cup will give a much more mild sweetness. [3] X Research source
Hibiscus plants are capable of blooming year-round. They are most likely to do this during the spring and summer when the weather is best, but they can even bloom in the winter in suitable climates.
Seal the flowers in an airtight container with silica. [4] X Research source This is the same chemical used in the drying packets sometimes found in clothes pockets. You can buy silica desiccant (the kind used for drying) from chemical supply retailers. Put the hibiscus on a rack or tray in the oven at a low temperature (like 100 degrees F) for several hours. See our article on drying flowers for details. If the weather’s hot and dry, you can also leave them on a drying rack in the sun. Try to put them somewhere animals won’t get to them.
