I secretly call this drink 'Jamaica Me Crazy.' In Mexico, where hibiscus water (agua de jamaica) originates, they actually pronounce it 'huh-MY-cuh,' making this pun slightly less clever. But some folks complain that tequila causes them to act nutso, so I find the name apropos.
Others claim that tequila is the 'cleanest-burning' of the boozes and the easiest on the body. (But then, they also said that about agave, and now everyone's freaking out about it not being the answer to all their problems.)
In my opinion, booze is booze and sugar is sugar. And everything is ok in moderation. Even (especially) moderation itself.
If there's one thing I know for sure it is that these bevvies are insanely good.So mix yourself up a tangy and refreshing Jamaica-Tequila Spritzer and enjoy a bit of moderation today.
Salud!
For more drinks recipes:
- Sparkling Whiskey Gingerade
- DIY Tonic Water
- Bojon Masala Chai
- Sparkling Grapefruit, Elderflower & Rosé Vodka Cocktail
*Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this spritzer recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.*
Jamaica-Tequila Spritzers
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 cup jamaica petals
- 2 cups water
- ice cubes
- 1/2 cup agave nectar
- 1 cup tequila
- juice of 2 limes, plus 6 lime slices or wedges for garnish
- 1 quart sparkling water
Instructions
- In a stainless steel saucepan, bring the jamaica and water to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover and let steep for 10 or 20 minutes. Carefully (it's very stainy!) strain through a fine mesh sieve and into a quart-sized jar or measuring cup, pressing on the flowers to extract all the liquid. Add the agave and stir to combine.Add ice cubes to the mixture to increase it to three cups, and let the ice melt, stirring, until the mixture is cold.
For 6 drinks:
- Add 1 cup of tequila and the juice of two limes to the mixture. Fill six glasses halfway with ice cubes, divide the jamaica mixture among them, and top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime slices and serve.
For single drinks:
- Pour 1/2 cup of the Jamaica mixture into a cup filled halfway with ice. Add 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces/1 jigger) of tequila, add a squeeze of lime juice, and top with sparkling water. The jamaica mixture will keep in the fridge for at least a week.
Notes
Nutrition
Jamaica-Tequila Spritzers
Feel free to omit the tequila for refreshing virgin drink.Props to Heidi Swanson for introducing this delicious drink to hippy bakers like myself in her book Super Natural Cooking.
1/2 cup jamaica petals
2 cups water
ice cubes
1/2 cup agave nectar
1 cup tequila
juice of 2 limes, plus 6 lime slices or wedges for garnish
about 1 quart sparkling water
In a stainless steel saucepan, bring the jamaica and water to a boil. Turn off the heat, cover and let steep for 10 or 20 minutes. Carefully (it's very stainy!) strain through a fine mesh sieve and into a quart-sized jar or measuring cup, pressing on the flowers to extract all the liquid. Add the agave and stir to combine.Add ice cubes to the mixture to increase it to three cups, and let the ice melt, stirring, until the mixture is cold.
For 6 drinks:Add 1 cup of tequila and the juice of two limes to the mixture. Fill six glasses halfway with ice cubes, divide the jamaica mixture among them, and top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime slices and serve.
For single drinks: pour 1/2 cup of the Jamaica mixture into a cup filled halfway with ice. Add 3 tablespoons (1 1/2 ounces/1 jigger) of tequila, add a squeeze of lime juice, and top with sparkling water. The jamaica mixture will keep in the fridge for at least a week.
rtgarden2019 says
so pretty
Jessa says
Also delicious with rum (or pretty much anything else).
Hibiscus is such a lovely color and your photos are exquisite.
(...as were the drinks!)
Katherine says
Very interesting. I tasted the mix pre-tequila - a little tart, not too sweet. Our first sips with tequila and sparkling water were tentative due to tequila involvement and sure enough it seemed the first whiff was overwhelming tequila (yes, I mixed everything).
But then it grew on all of us. Now, I couldn't spend a whole night drinking these because the flavor is quite intense. A wonderful aperitif.
Alanna says
Hi Katherine! Thanks for giving this recipe a go, and for reporting back. I'm sorry that you found the flavors overly intense, but so glad it grew on you all in the end. (You can always dilute with extra fizzy water and sweetener to your taste!) Cheers. :)
Katherine says
Oh - the flavors weren't intense in a negative way.
But if I did want to serve these to drink all afternoon you are right I should have added more sparkling water. And then blame you for my tequila headache the next morning :)
Alanna says
Oh, ok! And yes, I take full responsibility. :)
Claire says
Oh my goodness Alanna! I made this today as a non-alcoholic drink for a backyard fundraising party for my daughter's school which had a Sugar Skull theme. This was the PERFECT complement to the margaritas I made. Some people even mixed this into the margaritas. I drank it virgin all afternoon long and it hit the spot - so delicious. Now I want to try the grapefruit one you have on the site too.
Fabulous! Thank you.
Alanna says
Aw, thanks for making my recipe Claire - I'm so glad you all liked it! I've been on a hibiscus kick lately too - smoothie bowls everyday. :)