The sweet floral flavor of this strawberry hibiscus margarita is made by shaking up hibiscus simple syrup with fresh lime juice, tequila and triple sec. It's so much better than margs from a concentrate and the ingredients are so easy to find.
There's just nothing like making a fresh homemade marg. We love margaritas at our house (not just on cinco de mayo), if you couldn't tell by our cucumber margarita and mango margaritas. Using fresh ingredients like lime juice and agave nectar let you control the amounts of each without added fillers or sugars. Just real ingredients and tequila! They're easy to prep in advance and just taste so much better. And I'm guessing since you landed here, you would agree!
What Does A Hibiscus Margarita Taste Like?
These hibiscus margaritas have a slightly floral flavor from the dried hibiscus, but it's balanced well with the acid from the lime juice and sweetness from the sugar or agave. Hibiscus has a bit of a cranberry-like flavor that's a little sweet and a little tart. The tequila flavor is pretty mild. They're just like a classic margarita, but we added the hibiscus to the simple syrup.
Ingredient Notes
- Dried Hibiscus Flowers: you may see this ingredient and be scared to make them, but they're super simple to purchase. We got a bag on Amazon for less than $10 and you can use it for more margs or fresh iced tea or lemonade if you have some left. They look just like loose leaf tea that you steep in hot water.
- Sweetener: we used agave nectar, but you could also use granulated sugar or monk fruit sweetener.
- Limes: a half a lime is all you need for a single serving, plus a lime wedge to garnish and some to run around the rim of the glass.
- Silver tequila: this is the type of clear tequila you typically see/buy in grocery stores (not gold tequila!).
- Triple sec: we keep this on hand all the time, but any orange liqueur like grand marnier works too.
- Strawberries: this fresh fruit pairs so well with the floral hibiscus. Just muddle fresh strawberries into the marg after you mix everything up!
- Soda: top this hibiscus margarita recipe with soda water or ginger beer if you want a bubbly finish (totally optional!).
- Salt: I'm a sucker for the salty rim so use kosher salt, margarita salt or pink himalayan salt on the glass rim.
How to Make a Hibiscus Margarita
- Homemade hibiscus syrup: add the water and sugar or agave to a medium saucepan and bring that to a boil for high heat then remove it from the heat and add the dried hibiscus (or 4-5 tea bags) and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain it and discard the the hibiscus.
- Prep the cocktail glass: run a slice of lime around the outside of the glass and dip the rim into margarita salt and set aside.
- Make the margarita: pour the hibiscus flower syrup into a cocktail shaker with the tequila, triple sec, lime juice and fresh strawberries. Use a tamper or the back of a spoon to muddle all of the ingredients together and break down the strawberries. Add a handful of ice cubes then close the lid and shake well.
- Serve: Fill the glass with ice and strain the margarita into the cup. Top them off with club soda or ginger beer for a bubble option then garnish them with fresh mint, thyme, strawberries, a lime slice, orange peels or a whole flower to keep them fancy.
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Recipe Variations
I spent some time researching what goes with hibiscus and there are so many flavors that compliment these florals including ginger, orange, lavender, mint and thyme. All of them make great garnishes, but they also make great additions to the drink themselves, so here are a few variations that you can use the next batch you make.
- Ginger: add a knot of fresh ginger to the simple syrup with the tea and then finish the cocktail with ginger beer.
- Orange hibiscus: use 1 ounce of fresh orange juice
- Make a pitcher: jump down to the recipe card for an option to make 6 servings.
Make-Ahead and Storage
You can make the simple syrup in advance and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week or you can mix the margarita ingredients, except for the strawberry and ginger beer, and store it in the fridge for up to 4 days.
If you make this recipe, I’d love for you to give it a star rating ★ below. I'd love to hear from you! You can also tag me on Instagram so I can see it!
Strawberry Hibiscus Margarita
Ingredients
Hibiscus Simple Syrup (makes 1 1/2 cups)
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar or agave nectar
- 1/3 cup dried hibiscus tea leaves
Single Margarita
- 1.5 ounces (3 tablespoons) hibiscus simple syrup
- 1.5 ounces (3 tablespoons) silver tequila
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) triple sec (or other orange liqueur)
- 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) fresh lime juice (about 1/2 lime)
- 2 whole fresh strawberries
- Club soda or ginger beer to top
- Garnish: fresh mint, thyme, sliced strawberries, lime wedge, orange wheel or whole flowers
Margarita Pitcher (6 margaritas)
- 12 ounces (1 1/2 cups) hibiscus simple syrup
- 9 ounces (1 cup plus 2 tablespoons) silver tequila
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) triple sec
- 6 ounces (3/4 cup) fresh lime juice (about 6 limes)
- 12 whole fresh strawberries
- Club soda or ginger beer to top
- Garnish: fresh mint, thyme, sliced strawberries, lime wedge, orange wheel or whole flowers
Recommended Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or jar with lid
- Muddler or spoon
- Cocktail or Margarita glasses
Instructions
Hibiscus Simple Syrup
- Add the water and sugar or agave to a sauce pan and bring to a boil. Once it’s boiling, remove the pan from the heat and add the dried hibiscus and let it steep for 10 minutes.
- Strain it and discard the the hibiscus. Allow it to cool slightly before using or cover and store the hibiscus simple syrup in the fridge for up to 4 days, until you’re ready to serve.
Single Hibiscus Margarita
- Run a wedge of lime around the outside of the glass and dip the rim into margarita salt or sea salt. We used pink himalayan salt to add to the pink cocktail. Set the glass aside.
- Pour the hibiscus simple syrup, tequila, triple sec, strawberries, and lime juice into a cocktail shaker. Use a tamper or spoon to muddle all of the ingredients together, until the strawberries are broken down.
- Add a handful of ice then close the lid and shake well for 1-2 minutes until everything is cold and completely combined.
- Fill the prepared glasses with ice and strain the margarita into the cup. Top them off with club soda or ginger beer, then garnish them with fresh mint, thyme, strawberries, lime wedges, a lime wheel or orange wheels or a whole flower to make them fancy.
Hibiscus Margarita Pitcher (6 margaritas)
- Pour the hibiscus simple syrup, tequila, triple sec, strawberries, and lime juice into a large pitcher or large glass measuring cup. Use a tamper to muddle all of the ingredients together, until the strawberries are broken down.
- Strain the mixture to remove the strawberry seeds and pulp then pour the margaritas back into a pitcher filled with a few cups of ice. Stir well to incorporate everything and chill the margaritas.
- Run a wedge of lime around the outside of the glasses and dip the rims into margarita salt or sea salt. We used pink himalayan salt to add to the pink cocktail.
- Fill the glasses with ice and pour the margaritas into each glass. Top them off with club soda or ginger beer, then garnish them with fresh mint, thyme, strawberries, lime wedges or a whole flower to make them fancy.
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