Hibiscus Margarita (Jamaica Margarita)

by Yvette Marquez on September 16, 2023

This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Next time you’re in the mood for a cocktail that’s equal parts sweet, tart, refreshing, and boozy, you should try this simple Hibiscus Margarita recipe! Made by spiking hibiscus agua fresca with tequila, lime juice, and a splash of agave for sweetness, this Jamaica Margarita (or Jamaicarita, if you will 😉) is the brightly-hued sipper your happy hour has been missing.

two etched floral rocks glasses dipped in tajin and filled with ruby-red hibiscus margaritas on a carved wooden table.

Table of Contents

What is Jamaica? 🌺

Nope, we’re not talking about the country, here. In Spanish, jamaica means “hibiscus.” In most contexts, it refers to the dried flowers of this gorgeous tropical plant which are often steeped in lightly sweetened water to make hibiscus tea.

In Mexican families, we call that floral sweet tea agua de jamaica, or “hibiscus water,” and it just so happens to be one of my favorite flavors of agua fresca — an uncarbonated, lightly sweetened, non-alcoholic beverage.

If you’re unfamiliar with hibiscus and agua de jamaica, it can also be brewed to make a hot tea, frozen into paletas, added to make ponche, or spiked with white wine to make sangria.

dried jamaica (a.k.a. hibiscus) flowers on a wooden cutting board.

Why You’ll Love This Jamaica Margarita Recipe

If you’ve visited the blog before, chances are you already know that I’m a big fan of cocktails in general and that I *might* be a margarita snob. I literally have dozens of margarita recipes and spiked agua frescas on the site, like this Watermelon Mexican Mule, Cantaloupe Margarita, and Horchata Margarita, just to name a few.

While I can’t pick a favorite (that’s like asking a master gardener to pick the single best flower from an entire field!), this spiked agua fresca “Jamaicarita” definitely earns top marks across all categories. Aside from tasting like a glass of pure sunshine, these zesty hibiscus drinks are also:

Quick & Easy – Just pour, shake, strain, and enjoy! Each hibiscus tea cocktail takes just a few minutes to assemble.
Cheerfully Colorful – I mean, just look at that sexy dark wine color! It’s impossible not to smile when you get to sip on something so beautiful.
Sweet-Tart & Refreshing – This hibiscus tequila margarita boasts the classic puckery sweet flavor of agua de jamaica with a sufficiently boozy kick. YUM.

ingredients needed to make jamaica margaritas measured out on an etched wooden table with a navy and multicolored tapestry hanging behind.

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this spiked hibiscus flower drink. Here’s what to grab:

Agua de Jamaica – While most Mexican grocery stores will carry a powdered version akin to Kool Aid packets, making your own is so much tastier. It’s also super easy to do! Whip up a batch in just 10 minutes, then let it cool completely before adding to these margaritas.
Tequila Añejo – While you can use any variety of tequila you like, I splurged with an extra añejo, but a slightly aged reposado is also amazing to pair with jamaica.
Fresh Lime Juice – Bottled citrus juice can’t hold a candle to the fresh stuff. To get the most juice out of your fruit, give it a firm roll on the counter for 10-15 seconds before slicing it open.
Agave – Since tequila is made from agave, I pretty much exclusively use agave nectar to sweeten my cocktails. Feel free to swap in honey if you prefer, though you may want to thin it out with some warm water before adding to the shaker so it doesn’t clump together at the bottom.
Tajin – This chile lime salt is a Mexican pantry staple. Feel free to use any variety you like, though I prefer the original Clasico.
Dried Orange Slices – Optional, but so beautiful.

closeup on dried orange slices, a wooden spoonful of agave, and a small terracotta bowl of hibiscus flowers.

How To Make Hibiscus Margaritas

This hibiscus drink recipe is as simple as 1-2-3!

Step 1: Rim Glasses. Run a wedge of lime around the lip of your glass (or dip it in a shallow puddle of agave nectar if you prefer it to be sweeter) to wet it. Next, scatter a few teaspoons of Tajin on a plate, then dip the wet rim into it. Carefully fill the glass with ice.

Step 2: Shake. Pour the hibiscus tea, tequila, fresh lime juice, and agave into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Firmly place the lid on top and shake vigorously for 30-45 seconds to aerate and combine.

Step 3: Strain the jamaica margarita into your prepared glass, then garnish with a dried orange slice. Salud!

overhead shot of a a glass of jamaica margarita with a dried orange slice floating on top.

Optional Variations

While I love this hibiscus margarita recipe just the way it is written, there’s no law against you making it your own. Here are just a few ways you can tweak it:

Swap Your Spirit. Not a fan of tequila? Try rum or vodka instead. Have fun experimenting, and let me know the winners in the comments below!
Go Virgin. Going on the wagon? You can still enjoy a refreshing hibiscus drink, just without the booze. While I love agua de jamaica on it’s own, you can also try shaking it up with agave and lime juice, then pouring on some Topo Chico for a bit of sparkle.
Make It Frozen. Freeze some of your hibiscus agua fresca into ice cubes, then blitz the Jamaicarita in a blender with them. It’ll be frosty and delicious!

Expert Tips

Hosting a party? Batch out a pitcher of pre-mixed hibiscus margaritas, then set out a few cocktail shakers and a bucket of ice for your guests to serve themselves.
Made too much jamaica margarita mix? Pour the leftovers into popsicle molds for adult paletas!
Want to step up your presentation? Add dried hibiscus flowers to ice cubes for an added flourish of color and pizzazz.

Frequently Asked Questions

What drink is made from dried hibiscus flowers?

You’re most likely thinking about agua de jamaica, a lightly sweetened iced hibiscus tea that is popular in Mexico. Aside from that, I also like to make a hot hibiscus cinnamon tea, a hibiscus champagne cocktail, hibiscus sangria, and, of course, this hibiscus margarita.

What colors do hibiscus flowers come in?

When you’re shopping for dried hibiscus, you’ll almost inevitably find just the red or pink variety. However, if you’re growing hibiscus in your yard, you can choose from a whole rainbow of sunset hues like red, pink, yellow, orange, lavender, white, and multicolored mixes.

More Colorful Cocktail Recipes

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #muybuenocooking.