If you’re drinking around the world at EPCOT and going clockwise, China is stop number three. By then you’ve probably had a margarita in Mexico and maybe a Frozen Viking Coffee in Norway, and it’s hot. In all likelihood your stomach wants something cold and light that doesn’t feel like a meal.
That’s the Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea. We grab it at Joy of Tea in EPCOT’s China pavilion almost every time we’re there. It’s floral, light, and very easy to put away when the pavement is hitting 100 degrees.
And when we’re home and missing it, we don’t have to wait for the next trip. Here’s our copycat Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea recipe, plus everything you need to know about ordering the real one.
Jump to RecipeWhat Is the Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea?
It’s a spiked iced tea from Joy of Tea, the walk-up stand at the front of the China pavilion. Disney’s menu lists organic tea, light rum, honey, and blueberry boba. The current price has it sitting at $14.25 (as of October 2026), before tax.
The tea is hibiscus, so it comes out a deep ruby red, darker at the bottom where the boba settles. The blueberry boba are popping boba, which are little juice-filled pearls that burst when you bite them. They sink to the bottom, so a wide straw is your friend here.
It tastes floral and a little tart, and the honey softens the edges. The best part is that it’s refreshing without being syrupy. The rum stays in the background, too, which is great for your crawl and a little dangerous for your pace.
You get all that served in a 16 oz cup, perfect for sharing or just right if you’re looking for something to sip on as you make your way over to Germany.
Where to Get It at EPCOT
Joy of Tea is the outdoor stand at the front of the China pavilion, facing the World Showcase Lagoon. You order at the window and carry your drink with you, since the stand has no seating of its own.
There’s usually a line. Don’t let it scare you off, because it moves fast. Grab your tea and walk it over to the lagoon wall for a breather before you head to Germany.
Which Joy of Tea Drink to Order
The menu board at Joy of Tea is long, and you’ll be deciding with a line behind you. These are the five we most often see people choosing between.
Drink |
What’s in It |
Price |
Order It When |
|---|---|---|---|
Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea |
Organic tea, light rum, honey, blueberry boba |
$14.25 |
You want something cold and light after Mexico and Norway |
Dragon Butterfly |
Butterfly pea flower gin, vodka, green tea, lemonade, hibiscus and dragon fruit syrups, blueberry popping boba |
$15 |
You want something sweeter and prettier for photos |
Tipsy Ducks in Love |
Bourbon, black tea, coffee, cream, chocolate |
$14.75 |
You need caffeine and skipped the Viking Coffee |
Honey Hibiscus Iced Tea (zero-proof) |
Lightly sweetened organic tea, blueberry boba |
$7.95 |
You’re pacing yourself or driving |
Dragon Blossom draft (16 oz) |
Pilsner with orange blossom honey and green tea |
$10.75 |
You’re on a budget and like beer |
Prices from Disney’s menu, October 2026, before tax.
Two of the most popular items from here have hibiscus in them, but they’re very different drinks. The Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea is tea first. It’s floral and a little tart, lightly sweet from the honey, with light rum in the background.
The Dragon Butterfly is a sweeter, fruitier cocktail with two spirits, gin and vodka. Lemonade and dragon fruit syrup share the stage with the hibiscus, so it tastes less like tea. It’s the pretty purple one for photos. If you want something easy to sip in the heat, stick with the hard tea.
Is the Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea Worth It?
Yes, and it’s our China pick on the full crawl. After two heavy stops, it’s the drink that resets you. It’s also a great one to share if you’re trying to keep a steady pace across eleven countries.
If you’re not a rum person, skip the generic beer and grab the zero-proof version for $7.95. It’s the same tea and boba, with a lot more money left for France.
Taste: 8/10 | Value: 8/10
How to Make Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea at Home
Our copycat takes about five minutes, plus the time to brew and chill the tea. There are two tricks that we’ve found make or break this recipe:
1. Brew the tea strong, and 2., turn the honey into a syrup before it goes anywhere near ice. We are big fans of making ice out of the tea to keep the ice from watering down the flavors as much.
The Hibiscus Tea
You can use hibiscus tea bags or dried hibiscus flowers. The flowers are cheap and easy to find in the Hispanic foods aisle, where they’re sold as “flor de jamaica.” It’s the same thing we use for the hibiscus salt on our La Cava Avocado Margarita.
Brew it strong, because the ice and rum will water it down. We use 2 tablespoons of flowers (or 2 tea bags) for 1 cup of boiling water and steep it for 5 minutes. Let it cool completely before you mix, or your ice melts and the drink tastes thin.
The Honey
Honey straight from the bear goes into cold tea and turns into a sticky blob at the bottom of your glass. Stir equal parts honey and hot water together until it’s smooth, then let it cool. That’s honey syrup, and it mixes right in.
The Rum
Disney’s menu says light rum, so grab any white rum you like. Bacardi Superior is easy to find and works fine. The tea and honey do most of the talking, so I wouldn’t waste your good rum here.
The Blueberry Popping Boba
Popping boba comes in jars, already made, so there’s nothing to cook. Look for blueberry at an Asian grocery store or online, and keep the jar in the fridge once it’s open.
Add the boba to the glass first and never put it in the shaker. Shaking pops them before they ever reach your mouth. Pick up a pack of wide boba straws while you’re at it, so you can have the full experience of accidentally shooting one down the back of your throat.
Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea (EPCOT Copycat Recipe)
Equipment
- Cocktail shaker
- Jigger or measuring shot glass
- Tall glass
- Wide boba straw
Ingredients
Cocktail
- 1.5 oz light rum
- 5 oz hibiscus tea chilled
- 0.75 oz honey syrup
- 2 tablespoons blueberry popping boba
- ice
Hibiscus Tea
- 2 tablespoons dried hibiscus flowers (or 2 hibiscus tea bags)
- 1 cup boiling water
Honey Syrup
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup hot water (makes enough for about 5 drinks)
Instructions
- Make the tea. Steep the hibiscus in the boiling water for 5 minutes. Strain it and chill it completely.
- Make the honey syrup. Stir the honey and hot water together until smooth, then let it cool.
- Spoon the popping boba into a tall glass, then fill the glass with ice.
- Add the rum, chilled tea, and honey syrup to a shaker with ice. Shake for about 10 seconds.
- Strain over the ice and boba. Serve with a wide straw.
Notes
Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea FAQs
Where can I get the Honey Hibiscus Hard Iced Tea at EPCOT?
At Joy of Tea, the walk-up stand at the front of the China pavilion in World Showcase. It’s on the lagoon side, right on the main walkway.
What’s in it?
Disney’s menu lists organic tea, light rum, honey, and blueberry boba. Our copycat uses 1.5 ounces of white rum with strong hibiscus tea, honey syrup, and blueberry popping boba.
How much does it cost?
It was $14.25 on Disney’s menu in October 2026, before tax. The zero-proof Honey Hibiscus Iced Tea was $7.95. Disney’s prices change often, so check the menu in the My Disney Experience app before you go.
Can I add boba to a different cocktail?
Yes. Joy of Tea’s menu lists boba as an add-on for any of its cocktails, for $1.50. That’s handy if your friend wants a Kung Fu Punch but still wants in on the pops.
Does it have caffeine?
Disney’s menu just says “organic tea,” so we can’t tell you exactly what’s in the park blend. Pure hibiscus is caffeine-free, so our home version made with hibiscus flowers has no caffeine.
Where do I buy popping boba?
Asian grocery stores usually carry it in jars, often near the bubble tea supplies. You can also order it online. Look for “popping boba” specifically, because regular tapioca boba is chewy and needs to be cooked.
Can I make a pitcher?
Yes. For four drinks, stir together 6 ounces of light rum, 2 1/2 cups of chilled hibiscus tea, and 3 ounces of honey syrup. Keep it in the fridge, and add the boba and ice to each glass when you pour.
Hosting on a hot day? Freeze some extra hibiscus tea in an ice cube tray. The cubes keep the pitcher cold without watering it down.
Make It Your China Stop
Next time you’re three countries in and melting, get in that Joy of Tea line. Take it to the lagoon wall and let your stomach catch up while you pop a few boba.
If you’re planning the whole loop, our Drinking Around the World guide has the best pour in every pavilion. And if you’re stocking the home bar, our Moonshine Sour recipe makes a good next round.
