Agua de Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-cah) is a hibiscus iced tea drink made from dried hibiscus flowers (or “Flor de Jamaica” in Spanish), water and sugar.

What is the Mexican drink Jamaica made from?

Agua de Jamaica (aka Hibiscus Iced Tea) is an infusion of dried hibiscus flowers that's popular at Mexican taquerias. Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019.

Why is hibiscus called Jamaica in Spanish?

It's the exact same plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa, an edible species of hibiscus. Agua de Jamaica literally translates into the term Jamaica water. Agua de Flor de Jamaica in Mexico translates into Jamaica flower water.

Is Jamaica in Spanish for hibiscus?

Jamaica flowers are also called flor de jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-kuh) in Spanish and hibiscus flowers in English and they all refer to the same thing, the dried burgundy-hued petals of the roselle plant or Hibiscus sabdariffa.

Why is it called Jamaica drink?

In Latin countries, specifically Mexico, we call it 'de Jamaica' (from Jamaica) because the vibrant red flowers used in this drink are also widely used in the Caribbean country of Jamaica. They often call it sorrel.

Easy Jamaica Agua Fresca | Hibiscus Fresh Water | Aguas Frescas Recipe

What does Jamaica mean in Mexico?

In Spanish, jamaica means the hibiscus flower (as well as the island nation of Jamaica).

Is Jamaica the same as sorrel?

Note that the “sorrel” here is a Caribbean name for hibiscus flowers, also called jamaica in Spanish. When shopping, make sure you are getting that rather than the green herb called sorrel that tastes tartly of lemon.

Is hibiscus tea the same as Jamaica?

What is Agua de Jamaica? Agua de Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-cah) is a hibiscus iced tea drink made from dried hibiscus flowers (or “Flor de Jamaica” in Spanish), water and sugar. The hibiscus tea is very tart and almost has a cranberry-like flavor, which is why it's typically sweetened with sugar.

Is agua de jamaica the same as sorrel?

But while sorrel is commonly associated with Jamaica, iterations of the refreshing tart-sweet hibiscus drink abound: it's known as agua de Jamaica, jugo de Jamaica, or rosa de Jamaica in much of Latin America; bissap in Senegal; sobolo in Ghana; and zobo in Nigeria.

What is Jamaica water in English?

Agua de Jamaica which translates as “hibiscus water” is a typical agua fresca to accompany the mid-day meal in Mexico. It is sweet, tart, delicious and really a refreshing drink all at the same time.

Is Jamaica a fruit?

Jamaica's national fruit, the ackee is commonly used as the main ingredient in the island's traditional food dish, ackee and saltfish. This pear-shaped produce features a mild, nutty taste, which is why it is commonly curried over rice or cooked with tomatoes, onions, and codfish.

Is hibiscus the same as sorrel?

Jamaican sorrel drink is made by infusing hot water with dried (or fresh) hibiscus, which is called sorrel in Jamaica, along with ginger, spices plus lime or lemon juice.

Is Jamaica hibiscus good for you?

It can help boost your immune system and may help to prevent cell damage caused by free radicals in the body. This can reduce your risk of developing many significant health complications such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Hibiscus tea contains other antioxidants, such as anthocyanins.

Is agua de jamaica healthy?

This tea is incredibly healthy. It is a great diuretic, it is full of Vitamin C and can even lower blood pressure. For an extra bit of flavor and health benefits, you can also infuse this agua de jamaica with canela (cinnamon), similar to this Hibiscus-Cinnamon Tea. It is fragrant and so flavorful.

What does Jamaica taste like?

What does Jamaica taste like? The best way to describe the flavor of Jamaica is to say it tastes like a floral cranberry juice. Depending on how much, or how little, sugar you add to yours, it can be super sweet or light and refreshing. I prefer my agua de jamaica to be somewhere in the middle.

Is hibiscus good for kidneys?

Both green tea- and hibiscus-treated group had shown significant nephroprotective effects. They reduced biochemical indicators or nonenzymatic markers of the kidney dysfunction compared with gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity.

What is another name for sorrel in Jamaica?

Jamaican sorrel is in fact what many of us know as hibiscus blossoms, which can be found dried online and at Latin American or natural food stores, where they are sometimes also called flor de jamaica.

Who should not drink hibiscus tea?

It's probably best to stay away from mixing Tylenol and hibiscus in the meantime. And as I said before, don't drink hibiscus tea if you're on medication for blood pressure or blood sugar. The combination of both can lower either one too much.

Does hibiscus tea make you poop?

Hibiscus flower is rich in anti-oxidants that helps reducing the LDL (the bad cholesterol) , reducing the risk of heart attacks. Drinking this tea aids in digestion. If you are constipated, this amazing tea will help in regularizing your bowel movement. This might help you with weight loss.

What happens if you drink too much hibiscus tea?

Despite its healthy profile, drinking too much hibiscus tea could bring some side effects, including faintness and drowsiness, or possible liver damage. Research also shows hibiscus could also act as a diuretic.

What's another name for sorrel?

Sorrel (Rumex acetosa), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock ('dock' is a common name for the genus Rumex).

What is Jamaican sorrel drink good for?

Jamaican Sorrel drink also helps to reduce blood pressure. By significantly reducing elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, Sorrel has been shown to minimize the risk of heart disease, as it helps avoid artery-clogging. It also has benefits when used daily. Sorrel drink also reduces cholesterol levels.

What is sorrel juice good for?

Sorrel is a great source of antioxidants, which are beneficial compounds that protect your cells from damage by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Antioxidants may help prevent many chronic conditions, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes ( 6 ).

What do Mexicans drink instead of water?

The Mexican drink agua fresca (“fresh water” or “cool water”) is made with water and fruit, but it is much more than just water and much different from the juice. Fruit juice is typically made by squeezing the liquid from the fruit; it may be somewhat diluted, but it is much more juice than water.

Does hibiscus tea reduce belly fat?

Several studies suggest that hibiscus tea may be associated with weight loss and protect against obesity. One study gave 36 overweight participants either hibiscus extract or a placebo. After 12 weeks, hibiscus extract reduced body weight, body fat, body mass index and hip-to-waist ratio ( 10 ).