Hibiscus Margarita Recipe: A Beautiful Cocktail

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This hibiscus margarita is not only tantalizing to drink but gorgeous to look at. Made with a simple syrup flavored with dried hibiscus flowers (or jamaica), this cocktail will wow your guests and your taste buds!

You might also like this pomegranate mule cocktail.

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Angle view of hibiscus margarita with lime on the class and salt and hibiscus flowers and syrup in the background.

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Years ago, to celebrate a month of transitions and new beginnings, my friends threw a backyard barbecue, kicking off the festivities with this hibiscus margarita made with dried hibiscus flowers. The color is striking, the flavor unique, leading me to give our hosts the third degree about what was in it and how it was prepared.

This post includes everything I learned about this beautiful drink as well as my own version of the hibiscus margarita recipe.

Why I Know You'll Love this Recipe!

It's easy :-). I am not an expert cocktail maker, at all! So minimal ingredients and easy preparation is important to me.
Plan ahead: When I am hosting guests, I prefer to spend time with them and not in the kitchen or bar area so cocktails that can be prepared ahead are key to my success. The hibiscus syrup can be made days ahead and you can mix up a batch of the margarita and serve over ice.
Cocktail >> Mocktail: Serve this without the tequila and Cointreau. Just add sparkling water and some lime juice to the hibiscus syrup and you'll have a super refreshing beverage.
The color and flavor! The vibrant hue is from dried hibiscus flowers (also known as jamaica -- check your local Mexican market to find them), which are then cooked with water and sugar to create the base juice for this beautiful drink. What struck me about the hibiscus was it’s deep, dark, rich berry-like color and the tangy sweet and sour element it added to the drink.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Yes, you do need to make the hibiscus simple syrup but it's easy, I promise and you can make it ahead. No need to fuss at the last minute.

Ingredient shot for hibiscus margarita showing the tequila, hibiscus flowers, lime juice, sugar and cointreau on a white background.

Hibiscus Flowers: These are dried hibiscus flowers and can be found at a local Mexican market or ordered online. They may be labeled "jamaica".
Sugar: Just regular granulated sugar works well here. I use a lower than 1:1 ratio in of sugar to liquid in my simple syrups. You could also use other sweeteners such as agave or honey or other sugars. But you'll need to taste for flavor and sweetness to get the syrup the way you want it. I haven't tested other sweeteners ... yet!
Tequila: I used a blanco but your favorite reposado will work as well.
Lime Juice: Fresh squeezed, please!
Cointreau: Any citrus or orange liqueur can work - if you don't have Cointreau, try Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, Curaçao, or the Spanish citrus liqueur called 43.
Salt for the rim (optional): I just used my Diamond Crystal kosher salt but the salt rim is totally optional!

Straight down view of a cocktail glass with square ice cube inside and a lime on the rim plus salt and hibiscus margarita inside the glass, all on a blue napkin.

Tool to Use!

How to make this recipe

I recommend preparing the hibiscus simple syrup ahead of time and then mixing this cocktail is a snap!

Make the Hibiscus Base

1. Pour boiling water over the hibiscus flowers. Let steep ½ hour and then strain.

Hibiscus flowers soaking in hot water inside of a measuring glass.

Straining hibiscus flowers through a strainer into a small pot to make the simple syrup.

Make the Hibiscus Syrup

2. Bring hibiscus base and sugar to a boil over medium heat just until sugar dissolves.

Hibiscus syrup in a small pot on the stove.

3. Turn off heat, cover and let cool down. Strain into a storage jar. Should yield 1 ¾ cup.

Hibiscus simple syrup in a measuring cup showing it yielding about 1 ¾ cup of syrup.

Mix a Single Margarita

4. Prepare your glass with salt on the rim (if using) and fill with ice.

5. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, hibiscus syrup, lime juice and orange liqueur. Shake well and pour over ice filled, salt-rimmed glass and serve.

Adding ice to a cocktail shaker while making a hibiscus margarita.

Adding hibiscus simple syrup to cocktail shaker.

Hand about to shake the hibiscus margarita in the cocktail shaker.

Pouring hibiscus margarita over square ice in a salt-rimmed cocktail glass.

Hibiscus margarita in a salt rimmed glass on a green coaster.

Expert Tips and Recipe FAQs

Prepare the simple syrup up to several days in advance and refrigerate.
Mix a batch of the margarita elements ahead of time so you're all ready to make cocktails for a crowd.
Remember that any orange liqueur can work so don't be deterred if you don't have Cointreau.
The fancy square ice is purely optional - but it's fun and melts less quickly so we invested in one square ice mold.

Is hibiscus good for you?

As an added bonus, hibiscus (jamaica in Spanish – the J is silent) is thought to have natural curative powers including supporting upper respiratory health, maintaining healthy blood pressure levels, for example. Many reputable sources note that the hibiscus plant also contains many nutrients, such as Vitamin C, that are thought to be important parts of a healthy diet. I am not a dietitian or medical expert and in this recipe, I am really only using the dried hibiscus flowers for their incredible flavor and color!

Can I make the hibiscus simple syrup ahead of time?

Absolutely, in fact I highly recommend it! And don't forget to use it to make a mocktail by just adding ice and sparkling water plus some lime juice if you're feeling fancy!

Is this hibiscus margarita recipe batchable?

If I were having several guests over, I would definitely mix up all the ingredients minus the ice ahead so I am ready to pour over ice when people arrive.

Close up of a hibiscus margarita in a cocktail glass with a salt rim and slice of lime on the glass.

What to serve with a hibiscus margarita

So many things! Or just chips and salsa. My first thought is to make a my carnitas - either my Instant Pot carnitas or the slow cooker version. Then prepare a taco bar and set up a margarita station. Voila - instant party!

Close up of carnitas tacos on wooden cutting board.

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P.S. If you try this recipe, please leave a star rating and/or a review in the comment section below. I so appreciate your feedback! AND find more inspiration on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Signup for my email list, too!

Hibiscus Margarita Recipe

Beth Lee

5 from 1 vote

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 5

Cooling 30

Total Time 45

Course Beverage

Cuisine Mexican

Servings

Ingredients

Hibiscus Base

1 cup dried hibiscus flowers
2 cups boiling water

Hibiscus Simple Syrup

1 ½ cups hibiscus base
¾ cup sugar

Single Margarita

3 tablespoons tequila
2 tablespoons hibiscus syrup
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon Cointreau or other citrus liqueur

Instructions

Hibiscus Base

Pour boiling water over the hibiscus flowers. Let steep ½ hour and then strain.
Yields 1.5 cups hibiscus liquid.

Hibiscus Syrup

Bring hibiscus base and sugar to a boil over medium heat just until sugar dissolves.
Turn off heat, cover and let cool down. Strain into a storage jar. Should yield 1 ¾ cup.

Single Margarita

Prepare your glass with salt on the rim (if using) and fill with ice.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, add the tequila, hibiscus syrup, lime juice and orange liqueur. Shake well and pour over ice filled, salt-rimmed glass and serve.