Juneteenth Red Drink Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea

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Juneteenth is the African-American celebration of the emancipation of enslaved Black people. African American freedom day. 

Red, white, and blue are the official colors of Juneteenth. But the color red is extra special.

Red is the primary color of Juneteenth, symbolic of our ancestors’ bloodshed before freedom. So we honor them with a celebratory spread of African-American soul food – highlighting the red food recipes!

What is the red drink on Juneteenth?

We celebrate Juneteenth with soul food classic dishes with a focus on red food and drinks like Southern hibiscus sweet tea.

Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea

So what do you serve at a Juneteenth party?

Check out this Juneteenth menu of red food and drink ideas for what you can bring to a Juneteenth party.

The Best Juneteenth Red Foods & Drinks
The Best Juneteenth Red Foods & Drinks
Juneteenth red foods and drinks are delicious & symbolic. Red is one of the primary colors used to celebrate Juneteenth Black History
Check out this recipe!

What food or drinks might you see at a Juneteenth celebration?

How To Make Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Red Sweet Tea

What is Southern hibiscus sweet tea?

Made the same way as Black folks Southern sweet tea, except this tea is vibrant red and has a delicate floral aroma.

And like all Southern sweet teas, this one is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage – it symbolizes Southern hospitality and good company enjoyed throughout the deep South.

Drinking sweet tea on a hot day is the epitome of comfort, and hibiscus iced tea is a great meal starter, too! Especially when served with fresh cookies

What is the official drink of Juneteenth?

Asked another way, “What is the traditional drink for Juneteenth?” Or “Why hibiscus tea for Juneteenth?”

The official Juneteenth drink is a red hibiscus drink for two reasons.

Simply because the beverage is red. And hibiscus flowers are native to West Africa. A popular drink still made there today. 

Juneteenth Food History, Facts & Black Folks Recipes -The Soul Food Pot
Juneteenth Food History, Facts & Black Folks Recipes -The Soul Food Pot
Juneteenth food history, traditions, drinks & desserts for your African American celebration. Recipes inspired by Netflix’s High On The Hog.
Check out this recipe!

Essentially, hibiscus tea (red drink) has been part of Black culture since the beginning. Boiling the African hibiscus flowers to make a delicious organic drink.

When you purchase a hibiscus herbal tea today, the dried hibiscus flower is in the tea bag you steep in hot water. Then, you simply add ice for a cold brew tea – iced hibiscus tea!

Hibiscus sweet tea is perfect for your Juneteenth traditions menu.

What are hibiscus tea benefits?

Hibiscus tea is a popular herbal tea with a long history. 

It’s rich in antioxidants, which help fight off free radicals that can cause cell damage.

Hibiscus tea is also the perfect way to get your daily dose of vitamin C.

How to make Southern hibiscus tea

Kitchen equipment for Southern hibiscus sweet tea 

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Ingredients for Southern hibiscus sweet tea

  • 8 small or 4 large hibiscus tea bags
  • 5 quarts of cold water
  • 3 cups of granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon of baking soda
Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Instructions for Southern hibiscus sweet tea

  1. Cut the strings off the tea bags. (Careful not to cut the hibiscus tea bag because you don’t want dried hibiscus flowers floating around in your tea!)
  2. Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the water into the stainless steel inner pot. (Or, if using the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a large pot, steep/soak the tea bags in the boiling water for 30 minutes, and move on to step 8.)
  3. Then stir in the sugar and baking soda and add the tea bags.
  4. Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
  5. When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes.
  6. To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
  7. Using oven mitts, remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot burner.
  8. Use a slotted spoon to remove the tea bags from the pot.
  9. Pour the tea into a pitcher and optionally add a lemon slice or fresh mint.
  10. Serve Southern hibiscus sweet tea over ice, and enjoy!

🎙Check out The Soul Food Pod conversation about Juneteenth red foods!

What is the red drink on Juneteenth? Red Hibiscus Drink

Do you have a recipe for Southern iced tea with black tea?

Check out this easy recipe below for Southern sweet tea!

Black Folks Southern Sweet Tea
Black Folks Southern Sweet Tea
Southern sweet tea is a delicious blend of refreshingly sweet and tangy flavors. (Mostly sweet flavors when it comes to making Black folks Southern sweet tea!)
But sweet ice tea is more than just a thirst-quenching beverage – it's a symbol of Southern hospitality and good company, and it's enjoyed throughout the deep South all year.
"All that sweet tea and cobbler!"
Check out this recipe!

 

What do you serve with Southern hibiscus sweet tea?

This tea goes well with a wide range of dishes and soul food Southern favorite recipes. From salads to desserts, and of course most main dishes.

In the South, fried foods are prevalent. So it’s common to see people eating foods like Southern fried chickenpotato salad, or fried fish and enjoying a glass of perfect Southern sweet tea!

Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea Red Drink

Southern hibiscus sweet tea FAQs

Does hibiscus tea taste sweet?

Is hibiscus tea naturally sweet? Hibiscus tea is naturally sweet and has a bright, refreshing taste. 

What does hibiscus tea taste like?

The taste of this tea is a slightly floral, tangy flavor with sweet notes.

Juneteenth Red Hibiscus Southern Sweet Tea

What flavors pair well with hibiscus?

Feel free to get creative and add chopped fruit, juice, sparkling water, honey, flavored fruit concentrate, or simple syrup to your Southern hibiscus sweet tea.

For example, you could make hibiscus pomegranate iced tea, strawberry hibiscus iced tea, or hibiscus peach iced tea.

Lemon juice or fresh lime juice are easy natural additives to add more tang to this sweet tea recipe.

A cinnamon stick is always a fun addition to any hot tea drink or when drinking hibiscus tea.

And suppose you steep organic dried hibiscus flower or loose leaf tea. In that case, you could combine the dried flower tea with watermelon juice poured over ice for a refreshing hibiscus auga fresca! Then garnish with hibiscus leaves.

What is hibiscus tea at Starbucks?

Starbucks says their hibiscus ice tea includes water, sugar, citric acid, freeze-dried blackberries, white grape concentrate, and other natural flavors.

To request this secret-menu drink, order a Starbucks Passion Iced Tea, and substitute the water for Starbucks’ Very Berry Hibiscus with light ice.

Why is hibiscus called Jamaica?

In Spanish, the translation for Jamaica is habiscus! Flor de Jamaica (flower of Jamaica). That’s because the hibiscus flower originated in Jamaica

Are Jamaica and hibiscus the same?

Jamaica is synonymous with hibiscus. The fresh hibiscus flower is also known as agua de Jamaica (water of Jamaica).

West Indians call the hibiscus sorrel or sorrel, Africans call the plant Roselle, and it’s known as hibiscus in other locales. 

What is the sorrel for Juneteenth?

Red drink Sorrel is a traditional Juneteenth drink made with the red hibiscus flower. It’s both tart and sweet, yet a gingery beverage because of the roselle hibiscus flower’s tart, cranberry-like flavor.
Juneteenth Red Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Where does hibiscus flower tea get its color?

It is the anthocyanins that give hibiscus flower tea its beautiful red color. 

Anthocyanins are potent antioxidants that have been proven to have unique health benefits.

Is hibiscus tea good for your hair?

Hibiscus tea has been said to help prevent hair loss, strengthen your hair, and make it grow longer. Things I’m always in favor of!

Does hibiscus tea reduce belly fat?

While I have no experience with this (LOL! You know I’m kidding!), hibiscus tea is also said to be a natural remedy that helps reduce belly fat. 

Is hibiscus tea ok to drink at night?

The general rule is to enjoy hibiscus tea as much as you like!

As long as you do it in moderation, especially in moderation of Southern hibiscus sweet tea, which requires a few cups of sugar.

Also, it’s important to note that hibiscus tea does not contain caffeine. Instead, it contains melatonin that promotes sleep. So, drinking it in the evening won’t keep you awake!

Does hibiscus tea help with anxiety?

I’m certainly no expert here, but hibiscus tea also has positive effects on calming stress and anxiety. 

Hibiscus Tea Recipe

Can you use the Instant Pot to make iced tea?

Instant Pot drinks are a real thing, from homemade eggnog to hot chocolate.

This recipe shows you how to make Southern sweet tea with an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker for modern ease and efficiency.

How long does hibiscus tea last in the fridge?

This tea can be kept covered in the fridge for up to a week.

Southern Hibiscus Red Sweet Tea

What do you think of this recipe for Juneteenth Southern hibiscus sweet tea?

Have you had this hibiscus tea recie?

Would you make it? 

Comment below and lemme know. Then subscribe HERE for all the soul food!

The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide
The Ultimate Soul Food Recipes Guide
What is soul food? Soul food recipes are African-American recipes full of flavor! A legacy of Southern cooking the Black way. Check out this collection of the best soul food recipes!
Check out this recipe!

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Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea Recipe
Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea

Juneteenth Red Drink Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea

What is the official drink of Juneteenth?
Southern hibiscus sweet tea. It's a delicious red drink, and hibiscus flowers are native to West Africa. So, hibiscus tea has been part of Black culture since the beginning!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 minutes
Pressure Release Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Soul Food, Southern Food
Keyword: hibiscus sweet tea, hibiscus tea, Juneteenth food, Juneteenth menu, Juneteenth menu ideas, Juneteenth red drinks, Juneteenth red foods, red Southern sweet tea, Southern hibiscus sweet tea, Southern ice tea, Southern sweet tea, vegan, vegan soul food, vegetarian
Servings: 20 cups
Calories: 116kcal

Equipment

  • Instant Pot electric pressure cooker (optional)
  • Or a large 6-8 quart pot

Ingredients

  • 4 tea bags hibiscus teabags – 4 large (family-size) or 8 small
  • 5 quarts water cold
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon baking soda

Instructions

  • Cut the strings off the tea bags. (Careful not to cut the hibiscus tea bag because you don’t want dried hibiscus flowers floating around in your tea!)
  • Open the Instant Pot lid and pour the water into the stainless steel inner pot. (Or, if using the stovetop, add all the ingredients to a large pot, steep/soak the tea bags in the boiling water for 30 minutes, and move on to step 8.)
  • Then stir in the sugar and baking soda and add the tea bags.
  • Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is up – in the position for sealing) and pressure cook on high for 4 minutes.
  • When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for 15 minutes.
  • To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
  • Using oven mitts, remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot burner.
  • Use a slotted spoon to remove the tea bags from the pot.
  • Pour the tea into a pitcher and optionally add a lemon slice or fresh mint.
  • Serve Southern hibiscus sweet tea over ice, and enjoy!

Video

Notes

Juneteenth Southern Hibiscus Red Sweet Tea Recipe Card

Nutrition

Calories: 116kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Fat: 1g | Sodium: 26mg | Potassium: 1mg | Sugar: 30g | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg
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One Comment

  1. 5 stars
    When I’m thinking about Hibiscus I see my plant, LOL. But I never would have thought that they could make it into tea in another part of the world. This is definitely a must try.