Heavenly Hibiscus Martini

By
Brett Moore
Brett Moore
Brett Moore
Before becoming a food writer, Brett Moore earned a culinary degree and worked as a professional chef.
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Updated on 08/3/19
Rosangel Margarita
Helen Yin / Moment / Getty Images
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 10 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

National Martini Day is in June, but martinis are a go-to drink year round. Herb-infused cocktails are becoming more popular, as are people looking for ways to change up the taste of signature cocktails and add freshness and flavor that only fresh herbs can provide.

Traditionally, martinis are made with gin or vodka and vermouth with bitters and an olive or lemon peel as garnish. This martini recipe skips the vermouth and uses a bit of hibiscus tea to create a unique and delicious vodka cocktail. While the flower garnishes are stunning, the drink can be garnished with a twisted lime peel. 

Ingredients

For Hibiscus Syrup:

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 tablespoons hibiscus tea

  • 1 cup superfine sugar

For Martini:

  • 2 ounces vodka

  • 1/2 ounce orange liqueur

  • 1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

  • 3/4 ounce hibiscus syrup

  • Twisted lime peel, edible orchid, hibiscus, or other flowers for garnish

Steps to Make It

Make the Hibiscus Syrup

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Bring 1 cup of water to a boil. Add 2 tablespoons of hibiscus tea. Let steep for 10 minutes.

  3. Take the teabag out and add 1 cup of superfine (not powdered) sugar. Stir until all the sugar dissolves.

  4. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.

Make the Martini

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Pour vodka and other ingredients into a mixing glass.

  3. Add ice and shake vigorously for 7 to 8 seconds.

  4. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Garnish with a hibiscus flower or edible orchid.

  5. Serve and enjoy!

Tips

  • Fruit garnishes: Fresh fruit is also gaining traction as a way to vary the taste of a martini. Cucumber, lychee, pear, and passion fruit are some off-the-beaten-path fruits that can add zest to a traditional martini recipe. 
  • Other fun garnishes: A garnish is the proverbial icing on the "martini" cake when that flimsy paper umbrella simply will not do. Some unique garnishes to add to your martini can include lemongrass spears, a sprig of rosemary or mint, Sriracha salt rim (if you really want to bring the heat), a lollipop in a complementary flavor, and herbed or fruit ice cubes.
  • Unique ice cubes: Make herbed or fruit ice cubes by adding mint, parsley, basil, or other herbs or chunks of fresh fruit to the water in ice cube tray. Freeze as usual.

Recipe Variations

  • Other teas you can use: If you do not have hibiscus tea, you can use a simple black tea bag, chamomile, or green tea bag.
  • Add herbs: In addition to tea, herbs such as lavender, rosemary, and lemon balm are being used to infuse some flavor into martinis. Take a traditional martini recipe and simply muddle mint, minced lemon balm, or garnish with lavender and you dial up the class (and the glass) of a martini cocktail recipe. 
  • Add heat with spices: Spices are being added to martinis to give the wow factor. Ginger, cayenne pepper, and black pepper are spicing up alcoholic cocktails to offer up some extra bite in each sip.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
512 Calories
0g Fat
46g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 512
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 4mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 46g 17%
Dietary Fiber 0g 2%
Total Sugars 42g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 13mg 66%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 49mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)