3/21/13

Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler

Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler, just like the one at the expensive coffee shop but even better, make more than 8 servings for only $3!
Hola Amigos! Almost the weekend..wow...can't believe how fast this week is going by! Good! the faster it goes the sooner we get to have nice afternoons in the yard, delicious brunch dates with family and friends and fun outdoor activities.
Speaking of Brunch with family and friends...this drink or cooler would be PERFECT for such occasion.
Where I'm from we have "Saril" (Sorrel, Hibiscus or Agua de Jamaica) mainly around Christmas time since it's when our summer season begins and all through the first months of the year when this little shrub is in full bloom  and we pick it's flowers right from our backyard's plants and  spend a couple of hours being careful not to get one of the prickly transparent thorns of the seed pod in our fingers! Ouch...those tiny little things are similar to the ones you find in cacti flowers!!!
Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler, just like the one at the expensive coffee shop for only a fraction of the price!

Note : The hibiscus flower for tea  is not that pretty bloom you find in Hawaii
The hibiscus flower you make tea and coolers with is a little shrub. I really don't know if you could make an infusion with the flowery type.

Here in the US, or at least in the state I live in, I haven't been able to find Fresh saril or hibiscus flowers just  the dried ones...which are just perfect for the drink or tea and   the ones Lipton sells previously bagged  or the coolers sold at Starbucks. Now let me tell you friends, I paid $3 for a 12 ounce Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler, and it was 6 oz of ice and maybe, maybe,..6 oz of some sort of light, transparent syrupy drink with what I think were berries of some sort floating around. I almost returned the thing and asked for my money back!


Instead I came home and made my version from scratch in 20 minutes and wrote this impromptu post  in hopes to benefit the wallets of any of my readers.
You won't be disappointed and from now on this will be the only way you will have your Hibiscus Cooler, I promise!
 Very Berry Hibiscus Cooler
(Starbucks Copy Kat)

1 Cup dried Hibiscus Flowers
1 inch piece ginger root (or more to taste)
3/4 sugar (or more to taste)

4 Cups of Water
1 Cup frozen berries
2 cups water

In a big pot and high heat add 4 cups of water until it boils, add the hibiscus flowers, ginger and sugar, bring to a boil again, reduce temperature to low and let it simmer, covered for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let it cool down to room temperature.
Once it's cooled strain the infusion, discarding flowers and ginger
In your blender, add 2 cups of water and 1 cup of berries, hit pulse  repeatedly until they're chopped in little pieces .
You will need a large pitcher now to integrate the infusion with your berry blend.
Listo,
Serve it chilled with ice and enjoy!

As with any tea or infusion if you find that you need to add a little more water or sugar to make it suitable to your taste, please feel free to do so.
Can you tell the difference? I got 1 1/2 QT of Hibiscus cooler and all for $3!!! The same price of just 12 ounces and oh! so much better!!!! (the flowers were only 1.99 and the fruit $1 at the dollar store)

Hibiscus flowers and therefore it's infusion is rich in Vitamin C and has been known to lower high blood pressure as well.

Just the delicious taste of it is worth the 15 minutes brewing time...watch an episode of your favorite show, at the end a delicious drink will be waiting for you!

I think my version looks a lot better in this cup...what do you think?


Thank You for visiting the blog today, and remember dear friends, everything tastes better (and it's a lot cheaper) with a Pinch of Love!

Besitos,
Lizy

Sharing my delicious Tropical Cooler at these Fabulous Parties:
Married Filing Jointly
The Plaid and Paisley Kitchen
Hun...What's for Dinner
Pint Sized Baker
Love Grows Wild
Do Small Things with Love
Judy H-J's Thoughts
A Humble Creation
Top This by Leanne
The Chicken Chick
Couponing and Cooking
Rattlebridge Farm
The Thriftiness Miss
Cindy's Recipes and Writtings
The Frugal Girls
The Shabby Nest
Simply Designing
Not Your Ordinary Recipes
The Home Girl
504 Main
One Artsy Mama
The Best Blog Recipes
Shaken Together
The Real Coake Family
My Turn (For Us)
Just Us Four
Tartartots and Jello
Dear Creatives
Weekend Kitchen Creations
My Romantic Home
Chic on a Shoestring
Bowdabra
Tumbleweed Contessa
Sincerely, Paula
Funky Junk Interiors
Life on Lakeshore Drive
Flamingo Toes
Chatting over Chocolate
Under the Table and Dreaming
On Nom Ally




24 comments:

  1. What a nice beautiful, rich color!

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  2. I am going to find those hibiscus flowers and make some. Sbux was good, but yours looks so much better!

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    1. Audrey, check the international section for your supermarket or for sure any Latin Market in your town. Thank You so much for stopping by!

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  3. Pinned! Thanks for linking up to Saturday Dishes! Have a great week! ~ Paula

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  4. Oh YUM! Looks so refreshing!

    I nominated you for the Liebster award! Just a fun way to honor other bloggers.
    http://casa-de-castel.blogspot.com/2013/03/liebster-award.html

    Ashley

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    1. Thank You Assley! And Thank you so much for the nomination! very sweet of you!

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  5. Looks so bright and delicious! I love the idea of making your own and saving lots of money.
    Thanks so much for linking up at Real Family Fun.
    KC

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  6. I just love all your drink/smoothie/tea recipes. Your photos are terrific and the drinks look so delicious. I'm wishing I had this right now. Thanks so much for sharing on Foodie Friends Friday.

    Joanne/Winelady Cooks

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    1. Thank You Joanne! It's always a great pleasure to stop by Foodie Friends Fridays, not only for the great recipes I find there every week but for the amazing people we meet! Thank You for your kind comment and for always visiting the blog!

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  7. Looks oh so refreshing Lizy! This is perfect for our warm days in Jamaica. I enjoyed a lot of sorrel last Christmas.

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  8. This looks SO good! Just pinned it so I can try it this summer!

    Would love to have you show it off at our Give Me the Goods link party

    http://www.marriedfiling-jointly.com/2013/03/give-me-goods-party-1.html

    ~Chelsea @ Married Filing Jointly

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  9. Oh, yum! Thanks for your recipe, Lizy! I enjoy those teas but will NOT pay that much. Cracks me up that your cat was questioning your spending! :)

    Thanks for sharing at A New Creation and for the tidbits on hibiscus.

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  10. What a gorgeous colour for a drink! Thank you for sharing with Simple Supper Tuesday.

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  11. This is great! I had no idea that hibiscus was something you could eat...or DRINK! I love the comment from your cat, too! Such a cute post! Hope you have a great week and thanks for linking up to the FESTIVE FRIDAY FIESTA Link Party!!! Can't wait to see what goodies you'll be linking up this week!!! =D

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    1. Thank you Homegirl...hope you have a happy Easter too!

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  12. Thank you so much for sharing this in the Crafty Showcase! We are featuring you in a Last Minute Easter Recipe Round up!! This drink looks like it is so refreshing!!

    Have a super week. Here is your feature http://bowdabrablog.com/2013/03/26/last-minute-creative-easter-dinner-recipes/

    See you this weekend for a new Crafty Showcase!
    Susie @Bowdabra

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    1. Thank You Susie and the Bowdabra Team! Appreciate your support! Happy Easter

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  13. Wow, I had no idea you could use Hibiscus in drinks. This is so pretty and looks delicious. Just pinned another one!!! Thank you so much for sharing at A Bouquet of Talent! Happy Easter!
    hugs
    Kathy

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  14. I'll drink to that! Yum!! I'm not a Starbuck's fan, but you can count me in on your version of this drink.
    Thank you for sharing with the Clever Chicks Blog Hop this week!

    Cheers,
    Kathy Shea Mormino
    The Chicken Chick
    http://www.The-Chicken-Chick.com

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  15. Hibiscus tea is one of my favourites, we sell a delicious one at work and I've also been known to dry my own if I know where the flowers have come from! I've never made it like this before and I'll have to give it a try on an upcoming hot, summer day :D
    Thanks for linking at Smoothie OTW and you would make my day if you could add a link to the party on that fabulous list you've got going. Hope you'll link up again soon!

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  16. I just wanted to let you know this recipe was featured at Smoothie OTW this week. Thank you again for linking up and I hope you will again soon :)

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    1. Thank You so much Alison! That is awesome, heading over right now :)

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