Hibiscus Tea (Karkade): Taste, Benefits, Side Effects and How to Make It

Few drinks look as striking in a glass as karkade. In Egypt and Sudan it is an everyday drink, across the Gulf it is a favourite on the Ramadan table, and in Mexico the same flower is sold as agua de Jamaica. This guide explains where hibiscus tea comes from, how it tastes, what the research really says about its benefits, who should be careful with it, and how to make it hot or iced at home.

Where hibiscus tea comes from

Hibiscus tea is not made from the ornamental hibiscus flowers you see in gardens (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis). It comes from roselle, Hibiscus sabdariffa, an annual plant native to Central and West Africa that now grows across the tropics. After the flower falls, the fleshy red calyx around the seed pod is harvested and dried. Those dried calyces are what you steep. Roselle is known by many names, including karkade, roselle, Jamaica sorrel and sour tea.¹

What does hibiscus tea taste like?

Hibiscus tea is tart and fruity, a little like cranberry or red berries, with a light floral note. The sourness comes from natural fruit acids in the calyces, which is why many people call it “sour tea”. Plain, it is refreshing and clean; a little sweetener rounds it out. It pairs well with mint, lemon, orange peel, cinnamon or ginger.

Does hibiscus tea have caffeine?

No. Hibiscus tea is a herbal infusion, not a true tea from the Camellia sinensis plant, so it is naturally caffeine-free. That makes it a good choice for the evening, for after iftar, or for anyone cutting back on caffeine. You can compare it with other drinks in our caffeine chart.

Hibiscus tea benefits: what the research says

Hibiscus is one of the more studied herbal drinks, but most trials are small and short, so the findings are best read as “promising” rather than proven.

• Blood pressure. A 2015 meta-analysis of five randomised controlled trials (390 people) found that hibiscus significantly lowered both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with larger effects in people whose blood pressure was higher to begin with.² A later analysis of seven trials reported average drops of about 4.7 mmHg systolic and 4.1 mmHg diastolic.¹ These are modest changes, and hibiscus is not a replacement for prescribed treatment.
• Cholesterol and blood sugar. Some pooled analyses have reported small reductions in total and LDL cholesterol and in fasting glucose, but the evidence is limited and larger trials are needed.¹
• A caffeine-free, sugar-free cold drink. Brewed without sugar, iced hibiscus gives you colour and flavour with no added sugar, which makes it an easy swap for soft drinks and sweetened juices.

This article is general information, not medical advice. If you have a health condition or take medication, speak to your doctor before drinking hibiscus tea regularly.

Side effects: who should be careful with hibiscus tea

For most healthy adults, a cup or two of hibiscus tea is generally well tolerated.¹ A few groups should take extra care:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: there is not enough safety information, so it is best avoided.¹
• Blood-pressure medicine or low blood pressure: hibiscus may add to the effect of blood-pressure-lowering drugs.¹
• Other medicines: hibiscus may interact with some drugs, including the antimalarial chloroquine, and it has been shown to change how the body handles paracetamol (acetaminophen).¹ Ask your pharmacist if you take regular medication.

How to make hibiscus tea (hot)

1. Put one hibiscus tea bag (about 2 g) or 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried hibiscus in a cup.
2. Pour over 250 ml of water just off the boil.
3. Steep for 5 to 7 minutes. Longer steeping makes it deeper in colour and more tart.
4. Remove the bag and sweeten to taste, ideally with a little stevia instead of sugar.

How to make iced hibiscus tea (cold karkade)

Iced hibiscus is the classic summer and Ramadan version. There are two easy ways to make it:

	Cold brew	Hot brew over ice
For 500 ml	2 to 3 tea bags in cold water	2 to 3 tea bags in 250 ml hot water
Time	6 to 8 hours in the fridge	7 minutes, then pour over a full glass of ice
Taste	Smoother, less tart	Bolder and more tart
Best for	Making a jug the night before	A quick glass right now

Finish with fresh mint, a slice of lemon or orange, and a little stevia if you like it sweeter. Keep cold-brewed hibiscus in a closed jug in the fridge and drink it within two days.

Keep reading

Hibiscus tea: frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Drugs.com. Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa), professional monograph. drugs.com
2. Serban C, Sahebkar A, Ursoniu S, Andrica F, Banach M. Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Hypertension, 2015;33(6):1119-1127. doi.org