Saturday, June 29, 2013

Agua de Jamaica


A COOL DRINK FOR A HOT SUMMER PARTY

crisp, TART, refreshing
and HEALTHY !

a few quarts for less than .50 cents
whip up a batch of this for your next BBQ throw-down instead of spending all that $$$ on sugary store bought "contains 10% fruit juice" cranberry drink.

HEALTH BENEFITS?!...known to lower cholesterol, regulate high blood pressure, contains vitamin C and A, aids water retention...blah blah blah...
IT'S DELICIOUS !
it's pretty...
IT'S A LITTLE OUT OF THE ORDINARY...

you can find bags of the Jamaica (dried Hibiscus flowers) for about 3 dollars or buy it out of the bins at any Mexican super market.  i always keep an apothecary jar filled on the counter...it looks pretty and it's an easy beverage to whip up.  i boil some water before bed and throw in a handful of blossoms with a cinnamon stick and a bag of ginger tea or a few cardamom pods, let steep over night, strain through cheesecloth and chill the next day.

SIDE NOTE...if you don't sweeten it too much and leave out the cinnamon, this could possibly be a good alternative to red wine for the non-drinker/designated driver.


AGUA de JAMAICA

8 cups filtered water
 1 to 1 1/2 oz dried hibiscus flowers (a big handful)
1 cinnamon stick (optional, see side note above)
a few slices of ginger (optional)
or...a bag of Yogi Ginger Tea
sugar or sweetener to taste 
no need to use exact measurements. this is the way i throw it together.  after the first batch you will make it to suit your taste.

bring water to a boil, remove from heat and add hibiscus and cinnamon stick.  let steep for 20 minutes or let come to room temp.  strain and squeeze blossoms through a few layers of cheesecloth or a paper towel and sweeten to taste.  stir until sugar is dissolved.  i prefer this drink a little tart.
refrigerate and serve chilled as is...
if it is too strong add water or serve over ice.
blend with some sparkling water, fresh juice...pineapple, orange, apple or Trader Joe's Pomegranate Blueberry Ice Tea?...
i like to add a splash to Sobe Lifewater with a squeeze of lime.

or...MY NEW FAVORITE MIXER...Homemade Probiotic Fermented Lemonade

5 comments:

Rosita Vargas said...

Se ve muy rica y lindo color su agua adorable mi querida Jules,saludos y abrazos.

Jules and Ruby said...

muchas gracias rosita ... i appecciate sus comentarios. eso hace que mi día

Unknown said...

"I like to add a splash of Sobe Lifewater". So you put sugar in it?

Don't blog about health if you don't know what the hell you are talking about. That crap has more sugar in it than Coke.

Unknown said...

Actually, Jules, I want to apologize. I found your site by looking up kombucha and I assumed you were a health food site. You have awesome ideas and tasty food.

Jules and Ruby said...

HI Unknown....no worries. i just try to be a little healthy where ever i can, but no, i am not a health food site. i try to sweeten things with Truvia, but when REAL sugar is necessary i go for it.
this Jamaica is so tart it needs a little something...the real recipes call for A LOT of sugar, but i use sugar free Sobe or Truvia. honey or agave would work as well.
i appreciate your comments...any and ALL. thanks for stopping by.
PS always welcome to suggestions on the ever changing "healthy" sweeteners

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