Agua Fresca De Piña Y Jamaica Recipe

Make hibiscus (agua de jamaica)

Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Turn off heat, add 1 cup dried hibiscus flowers, cover and steep 10–12 minutes until deep ruby and fragrant. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into a heatproof pitcher, pressing gently to extract liquid. Discard solids and let the infusion cool to room temperature (about 20–30 minutes).

Prepare pineapple purée

While the hibiscus steeps or cools, cut the fresh pineapple into chunks (if not already). Place 3 cups pineapple chunks in a blender and puree until smooth, about 30–60 seconds. If you prefer a very smooth agua, strain the purée through a fine mesh sieve into a bowl, pressing with the back of a spoon to extract about 2 1/2 cups juice/purée; reserve solids to use in smoothies or discard.

In a small saucepan combine 1 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup of the hot hibiscus infusion (reserved right after straining) or 1/2 cup water. Warm over medium heat, stirring until sugar is fully dissolved to make a simple syrup flavored with jamaica. Remove from heat and cool 5 minutes. (If you prefer less sugar, start with 3/4 cup and adjust later.)

Stir the cooled hibiscus infusion, pineapple purée (or strained pineapple juice), the cooled hibiscus simple syrup, and 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice in a large pitcher. Taste and adjust sweetness or acidity: add up to 1/4 cup more sugar syrup or another tablespoon lime if needed.

Add 4 cups cold water or chilled sparkling water to the pitcher and stir until combined. This dilutes the concentrate to a refreshing strength; adjust amount of water to taste for a more intense or lighter flavor.

Refrigerate the agua fresca for at least 30 minutes to chill and allow flavors to marry. Alternatively, serve immediately over a tall glass filled with ice cubes (about 1/2 cup to 1 cup ice per glass).

To serve, fill glasses with ice, pour the agua fresca and garnish each glass with a pineapple wedge or lime slice and a sprig of mint if using. Stir before drinking. Keeps refrigerated in a sealed pitcher up to 3 days; stir or shake before serving as ingredients may settle.