Fresh Grapefruit and Hibiscus Spritzer

I’m ahead of schedule. Typically I don’t crawl out of hibernation and start jonesing for sunshine and heat until February.

Or, I might be behind schedule. January is almost over and I’m just now getting started on those resolutions.

Or it could be just the right time for this refreshing, bright, better than water, better for you without booze spritzer.

Hibiscus- blood-red and also (probably) good at reducing blood pressure and (possibly) cholesterol. 

Grapefruit- sweet, tart, complex. And (probably, possibly) good for the heart as well.

Did I mention that this is also easy, invigorating, and good?

Hibiscus is a flower lush with history and myth. The angry red eyes and tongue of Kali. The dark goddess who wears her slain enemies as jewelry- a voluminous skull necklace, severed head earrings. Hibiscus is her flower. And when the hibiscus syrup stains my fingers I think of blood and power and the winter darkness. And when I add citrus and a splash of fizzy water to the dark red syrup I think of tropical isles and long warm days. Such are the cycle of days. Such is life.

Fresh Grapefruit and Hibiscus Spritzer

note- this makes enough hibiscus syrup for several drinks. Like to make one batch of the syrup and keep it in the refrigerator to add to fizzy water.

ingredients

• 1/4 cup hibiscus flowers
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar (optional)
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• the juice from half a grapefruit
• seltzer or club soda or fizzy water of your choice

directions

1. to make the hibiscus syrup- combine the hibiscus flowers, sugar, and boiling water in a heat and stain resistant container and allow to steep for at least twenty minutes or up to one day. Strain and transfer to a lidded (and stain resistant) container
2. to make the spritzer combine 2 tablespoons hibiscus syrup and the grapefruit juice in a sixteen ounce glass.
3. add ice and top with fizzy water. (I usually add my fizzy water first and then just a cube or two of ice – or sometimes no cubes at all- that way I get exactly the about of fizz that I want and no stirring required)

Fresh Grapefruit and Hibiscus Spritzer

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steeping time 20 mins

Total Time 2 mins

Course Drinks

Servings 1

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1/4 cup hibiscus flowers
• 1-2 teaspoons sugar optional
• 1 1/2 cups boiling water
• the juice from half a grapefruit
• seltzer or club soda or fizzy water of your choice

Instructions

 

• to make the hibiscus syrup- combine the hibiscus flowers, sugar, and boiling water in a heat and stain resistant container and allow to steep for at least twenty minutes or up to one day. Strain and transfer to a lidded (and stain resistant) container
• to make the spritzer combine 2 tablespoons hibiscus syrup and the grapefruit juice in a sixteen ounce glass.
• add ice and top with fizzy water. (I usually add my fizzy water first and then just a cube or two of ice - or sometimes no cubes at all- that way I get exactly the about of fizz that I want and no stirring required)

Notes

this makes enough hibiscus syrup for several drinks. Like to make one batch of the syrup and keep it in the refrigerator to add to fizzy water.

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