Make this tropical hot toddy recipe with your favorite whiskey and honey sweetened hibiscus tea in just minutes.
I'm dropping my favorite flavored hot toddy recipe on you today because we don't gatekeep around here! You can whip up this comforting classic with a West African twist in no time with just a few ingredients you probably have in the pantry. Let's get into it.
If you enjoy this recipe, check out my soothing pepper tea or Nigerian zobo drink next!
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❤️ Why You'll Love this Recipe
Simple to Make - You only need a few easy ingredients for this tropical spiked tea and no fancy tools or techniques needed!
Unique Flavor - The main flavors in my hibiscus toddy come from the tea itself, which is earthy, fruity, and floral. I'd describe it as tart, luscious, and juicy with balancing brightness from the citrus and sweetness from the honey.
If you're Jamaican, I'd describe it as a warm sorrel tea. And for my West African folks that drink zobo, sobolo, etc., you'll recognize the taste plus a shot of booziness.
I'm the head cheerleader for hibiscus drink recipes but I also love adding unique flavors to classic drinks and encourage you to check out my soothing mint tea hot toddy, chai spiced hot toddy, and apple cider hot toddy next!
What kind of liquor to use in a hot toddy?
In addition to whiskey, brandy and rum are commonly used in spiked hot toddies. Since hibiscus is indigenous to West Africa and commonly found throughout the diaspora in the Caribbean and Americas, as well as Polynesian islands, it's associated with tropical flavors. So rum and tequila are also great options!
What You'll Need for this Recipe
Hibiscus Tea forms the flavor base of this warm cocktail recipe. I like to use dried hibiscus flowers but hibiscus tea bags will work just as well so grab whatever is most convenient for you.
Honey is the classic sweetener to use in a hot toddy and it has soothing and antibacterial properties.
Lemon Juice promotes hydration, cuts phlegm, and balances out the flavor so it's not too sweet. I recommend fresh squeezed lemon juice but you can also use concentrated lemon juice instead.
Whiskey is my go-to spirit for a toddy, including bourbon and scotch expressions but you have other options, as I mentioned above!
Check out the recipe card below for full ingredients list, measurements, nutrition facts, and step-by-step instructions!
Substitutions & Variations
Vegan - How to make a hot toddy vegan? Replace honey with maple syrup or your plant-based sweetener of choice, including zero-sugar options. I do recommend cutting the amount in half as maple syrup tends to be a bit sweeter than honey.
Non-Alcoholic - Can I enjoy this drink without alcohol? Certainly! A mug of hot hibiscus tea is comforting all on its own so feel free to make this recipe without the liquor if you're sober curious.
Sweetener - You can add subtle warmth and spiciness to this drink with ginger-infused honey syrup or spiced ginger turmeric honey.
How to Make a Hot Toddy with Hibiscus Tea
- Step 1: Heat water then add hibiscus tea.
- Step 2: Steep for five minutes then remove the tea.
Pro Tip
Grab a tea kettle to heat your water on the stovetop or simply microwave it in a mug. You can also use an electric kettle for the perfect combination of coziness and convenience. You won't need any other tools except a spoon to stir and a sharp knife to cut the lemon.
- Step 3: Stir in whiskey, honey, and lemon then garnish with lemon peel.
Frequently Asked Questions
These drinks are believed to help alleviate cough and cold symptoms and relax you.
How to Serve a Hot Toddy with Hibiscus Tea
Hot toddy garnishes can be as simple or extraordinary as you like. Lemon is very common as it's pretty widely available and already used in the recipe. Use a stripe of the lemon peel, a round slice of lemon or even a whole wedge.
Cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise are also often served in hot toddies and I use them in my warm hibiscus tea.
More Favorite Hibiscus Drink Recipes
Looking for more recipes like this? Try these:
I hope you'll enjoy this hot toddy recipe with hibiscus tea soon and very soon. And sharing is caring, so be sure to pin this flavored toddy recipe for later and follow me over on Pinterest. Thanks for reading!
📖 Recipe
Hibiscus Hot Toddy
Equipment
- 1 knife
- 1 electric tea kettle optional
- 1 heat safe mug
- 1 jigger
- 1 citrus juicer optional
- 1 spoon
Ingredients
- 6 ounces hot water
- 1 tablespoon dried hibiscus or one hibiscus teabag
- 2 teaspoons honey
- ½ lemon
- 1 ½ ounce whiskey
Instructions
- Use knife cut a strip of lemon peel off for garnish then cut lemon in half. Set both aside.½ lemon
- Use electric kettle to heat water to boiling (or heat for about two minutes in the microwave or four minutes on stovetop).6 ounces hot water
- Add dried hibiscus and hot water to a mug then steep for five minutes.1 tablespoon dried hibiscus
- Carefully remove the hibiscus from tea then add honey, squeeze in the lemon juice, and pour in whiskey. Stir until dissolved.2 teaspoons honey, 1 ½ ounce whiskey
- Serve with lemon peel garnish, if desired. Carefully enjoy while warm and drink responsibly!
Jen says
This hibiscus hot toddy tasted delicious and I love how quick and easy it is to make. I'll definitely be making this one again!
Robin says
The West African twist on a hot toddy is exactly what I needed this evening! I loved this to the point it may become problematic...thank you!
Marta says
I LOVED the floral tartness of this hibiscus hot toddy! It was a nice change of pace from the boring original.