The 5-Calorie Pink Cooler You'll Want to Sip All Summer Long

FitSugar|Lizzie-Fuhr

The first time I ever sipped on a hibiscus cooler I was sitting in a tiny health-food cafe in Ithaca, NY. It was 90 degrees outside, and I'll never forget how surprised I was that the flowers growing outside my childhood home could be dried and transformed into such an awesome drink. Flash-forward 10 years later to my San Francisco apartment. My roommate gets a package in the mail from her health-foodie mama with a huge bag of these dried flowers. Immediately, Katrina gets to work in the kitchen and steeps a huge batch of this iced tea she and I finish in three days.
Beyond being a delicious, low-calorie, and hydrating alternative to classic fruit punch or bottled iced tea, hibiscus flowers have been shown to lower blood pressure naturally. The tart tea is delicious on its own, but it's even better with the addition of two more low-calorie ingredients: seltzer and lime juice. If you're hosting a Summer BBQ, consider serving a pitcher of this cooler recipe alongside a little vodka. It's a low-calorie cocktail everyone will love.

From Lizzie Fuhr, POPSUGAR Fitness

Fizzy Hibiscus Cooler

Notes

I highly recommend making a much larger batch of this hibiscus tea. I typically steep 3 tablespoons of dried hibiscus flowers in 6 cups of water. I always want more after my first sip.
If this tea is too tart and tangy for your taste, feel free to add a drop of your favorite sweetener.

Ingredients

1 cup water
1/2 tablespoon dried hibiscus flowers (not in syrup)
1 cup lime-flavored seltzer
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
Ice cubes

Directions

1. Bring water and hibiscus flowers to a boil. Turn off heat, and then cover and steep for 15-20 minutes. With a fine mesh strainer, strain into a large pitcher or container, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. In a tall glass, combine your hibiscus tea, seltzer, and lime juice. Stir with a spoon, drop in your ice cubes, and enjoy.

Source: Calorie Count

Information

Category

Drinks

Yield

Makes 1 beverage

Nutrition

Calories per serving

5

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