Aguas Frescas are the Mexican answer to iced teas. Agua de jamaica is one of the more popular flavours, a sweet/sour ‘tea’ that refreshes on a hot Mexican afternoon.
Jamaica ‘iced tea’
In our class we made ‘Agua de Jamaica‘ by adding the dried flower calyxes to water, simmering for 15 minutes, straining and then adding sugar to taste. Chilled, it was a very refreshing beverage.
Jamaica is a type of hibiscus, but looks very different from what I think of as an hibiscus.
the red flowers of the jamaica plant
Dried hibiscus calyxes, are called ‘jamaica‘ (hah-MAI-ka) in Spanish.
dried jamaica calyxes
After simmering, strain the jamaica (hibiscus) infusion and add sugar to taste. Serve in ‘jarros‘ with lots of ice.
Serve in ‘jarros‘ with lots of ice
a glass of chilled Agua de Jamaica
Health benefits: according to several people I met in Mexico, jamaica brings down high blood pressure and, like other red drinks such as cranberry juice, also detoxifies the blood.
To practice your Spanish, and find out more about other ‘aguas frescas’ go to our Spanish course website: http://www.soleducational.com/estudiantes/modulos/modulo_1/m1_aguas_frescas.html