āVieques Island Hibiscus Flower Tea
Sip & Save Our Shoreline
Vieques Island Hibiscus Flower Tea is a community partnership that supports the work of the Vieques Conservation & Historical Trust.
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Every purchase directly advances the Trust’s conservation, education, and community initiatives—helping protect and restore the coastal and marine ecosystems that surround Vieques, while safeguarding Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay for future generations.
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Tea purchases help to:
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Protect and restore coastal and marine ecosystems
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Safeguard Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay
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Support environmental education and youth programs
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Preserve Vieques’ natural and cultural heritage
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Strengthen local stewardship and community resilience
The People Behind The Tea
Chia Collins & Michael Cohen
A Way To Give Back
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Chia Collins and Michael Cohen are the people behind Vieques Island Hibiscus Flower Tea. After purchasing a home on Vieques, they looked for a meaningful way to give back to the community that welcomed them.
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Like many visitors, their first experience in Puerto Mosquito Bioluminescent Bay was transformative. And like many residents and long-term supporters of the island, they wanted their contribution to feel joyful, useful, and shareable.
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This tea is their way of supporting the Trust’s mission—turning a simple, everyday ritual into sustained support for conservation, education, and community stewardship on Vieques.
How it Began
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One of Chia and Michael's favorite places on Vieques is Playa Negra Fine Foods, a restaurant shaded by trees and filled with warmth, run by two unforgettable people: Wanda, an inspired chef, and Gustavo, the consummate host.
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On one visit, they were served a glass of iced hibiscus tea that stopped them in their tracks—bright, refreshing, and perfectly balanced. Naturally, they asked for the recipe.
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Gustavo smiled and replied: “It is not Celestial Seasonings tea bags.”
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Challenge accepted.
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What followed were months of experimenting, tasting, and tinkering until they arrived at a recipe they were proud to share: Vieques Island Hibiscus Flower Tea. Today, every time it is served, the reaction is nearly always the same:
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“Wow.”
Gustavo & Wanda
Playa Negra Fine Foodsā
Why It Matters
Vieques Island Hibiscus Flower Tea is one example of how visitors and residents alike can support Vieques through everyday choices. Each purchase helps sustain the Trust’s year-round work—connecting people to the island, protecting what makes it extraordinary, and ensuring its natural and cultural heritage endures for generations to come.