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    Home » African Keto Recipes » Sorrel Drink (Zobo Drink/Sobolo)

    Jul 2, 2020

    Sorrel Drink (Zobo Drink/Sobolo)

    Published on Jul 2, 2020. Updated on Nov 2, 2021. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. 17 Comments

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    pinterest image of sorrel drink

    Sorrel drink, also known as Zobo drink or Sobolo, is a tangy, refreshing, and satisfying drink that tastes amazing and is highly nutritious. Enjoy on a hot summer day or as a relaxing evening drink!

    Sorrel drink (zobo, sobolo) is refreshing is healthy

    Sorrel Drink goes by many names depending on what country you are from. In Nigeria, it is known as Zobo drink (or Zoborodo), in Ghana, Sobolo, and in Jamaica, Agua de Jamaica. In Senegal, it is the national drink and is known as Bissap. 

    I love this drink because it is cheap and so easy to make, and it is so satisfying.  You know that feeling you get when you drink a cold soda on a hot day? Sorrel drink has all the effects except it is also very healthy and nutritious.

    It also helps prevent cravings and late-night snacking since it is so satisfying and only contains 3 calories per cup.

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    You can serve it chilled or warm, depending on the season and what you are in the mood for. I like to make a large batch and reach for it whenever I get home from a long, hot day!

    In Jamaica, sorrel drink is mostly made during the holidays as part of the Christmas celebration. But in Africa, it is made all year round as part of a healthy, refreshing, and affordable beverage.

    What is Sorrel drink made of?

    Sorrel drink is made from the petals of a species of Hibiscus, known as Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle). You will often hear this drink referred to as Roselle Juice or Hibiscus Drink. 

    It can be used fresh, frozen, or dried, but it is most commonly sold in dried form. When dried, the hibiscus leaves take on a dark red-purplish color.

    The roselle fruit is also known as Florida cranberry, Red sorrel, or Jamaica sorrel. It is grown around the world, although it is native to Central and West Africa.

    sorrel leaves, dried hibiscus leaves

    What does Sorrel drink taste like?

    Sorrel drink has a sour, tangy, and tart taste. Its flavor is sharp and acidic and somewhat similar to that of raspberry. 

    Benefits of Sorrel drink (zobo drink)

    Sorrel drink contains powerful nutrients that have amazing health benefits. It is an excellent source of vitamin C and contains roughly 80% of the daily recommended allowance.

    It is also a great source of iron, magnesium, and antioxidants.

    Some other great health benefits include:

    • Improves heart health.
    • Helps soothe a sore throat and fight the common cold.
    • Studies have shown that it helps to treat high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
    • Helps maintain healthy teeth and gums due to its calcium content.
    • Helps with constipation and to soothe an irritated stomach.
    • There is some study that shows it reduces body mass index and aids in weight loss.
    Zobo drink (sobolo) is a healthy drink made in Nigeria and Ghana

    Ingredients used in making Sorrel drink 

    • Dried hibiscus leaves: You can get them online from Amazon or in your local grocery store. It is either sold pre-packaged or in the bulk section, like in my local HEB grocery store. 
    • Hibiscus leaves are sometimes labeled 'Hibiscus flowers' or 'Hibiscus tea leaves' but don't confuse them with hibiscus tea. Hibiscus tea is usually packaged to be steeped in hot water. 
    • Flavoring: Lemon, ginger, and cinnamon sticks. These are my favorite flavors to spice my sorrel drink just a bit. There are so many different variations of this drink, which I will explain later in greater detail.
    • Sweetener: Sorrel drink is commonly sweetened with a ton of sugar, but I feel this negates the whole point of being a healthy and somewhat medicinal drink. I use low-carb sweeteners, and my favorite is monk fruit sweetener because I like the taste of it. Feel free to use your favorite sweetener as a substitute.
    • Water: I use roughly 10 cups of water to make my sorrel drink. You can add more water or even dilute it after it's done.
    Hibiscus leaves, ginger, lemon, cinnamon and sweetener

    How to make Sorrel drink

    I use 2 cups of hibiscus leaves, and it is plenty enough. My sorrel drink ends up with a deep red color and is super concentrated. 

    To be safe, rinse your hibiscus leaves before you use them. The last thing you want to see in your sorrel drink is sand or dirt.

    Pour the leaves into a colander and rinse thoroughly under running water. You would notice that the water draining out is red in color, but don't worry about it. I promise you, there is still a lot of juicy red liquid left in the leaves.

    Chop the ginger into small pieces and cut the lemon in half.

    You can either make this on the stove or in the instant pot.

    I like to make my sorrel drink in the instant pot because it is so much more convenient. I don't have to monitor it or worry about spills and I can just set it and go.

    Add the sorrel to the instant pot, add 10 cups of water, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon sticks. 

    Set the instant pot to Manual mode and set it to 10 mins on high pressure. It will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.

    After it is done, let it release naturally. The longer it sits, the deeper the red color is, and the flavor is much stronger. 

    Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the sorrel drink so that only the liquid remains, then add your sweetener.

    how to prepare sorrel drink

    It is best to add the sweetener when the drink is still piping hot. That way, it dissolves entirely without sinking to the bottom.

    Stir in the sweetener and let it cool down. Add a few ice cubes in a glass and serve chilled. 

    This recipe makes roughly 8 cups and contains 0 net carbs. It keeps well for about a week in the fridge. You can keep it longer, but it might not taste as fresh.

    How to make Sorrel drink on the stove

    Place the hibiscus leaves, water, cinnamon stick, ginger, and lemon in a pot on high heat, and bring to boil. 

    When it boils, turn the heat down to medium and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.

    Strain and add the sweetener. Let it cool down, then chill and serve.

    Sobolo, zobo drink chilled and ready to serve

    Variations when making Sorrel drink

    • Spiced: In Ghana, Sobolo is often made quite spicy by adding selim pepper, whole cloves, black pepper, and red chili peppers.
    • If you want to add pepper and other spices, blend them in a blender with water. Then strain them and add to your strained sorrel drink a little at a time till you reach your desired level. If it becomes too spicy, just add some water to dilute it.
    • Holiday version: In the Caribbean, it is customary to spike Sorrel drinks with white rum over the holidays! You can also add nutmeg or all-spice for those earthy fall flavors.
    • Fruity: You can make this more fruity by adding lime, lemon zest, or orange zest. You can also serve chilled with cucumber slices. 
    • In Nigeria, pineapple bark, and sometimes the pineapple itself, is frequently added to the zobo drink. But since my version is low carb, I omit sugary fruits when making mine.

    Helpful Tips

    • If you're in a hurry, you can add the sweetener at the same time when boiling, but it is better to add it after straining the leaves. That way, you only add what you need and not waste it on the leaves that will be discarded.
    • The sweetener should be added when the sorrel drink is scalding hot so that it completely dissolves. If you wait for it to cool down first, there is a chance the sweetener will mostly sink to the bottom.
    • My sorrel drink is quite concentrated, as you can see from the intense red color. You can dilute it and get up to 12 - 14 cups of juice. It will still taste delicious, but the color will be a lighter red hue.
    • If you want a more robust ginger flavor, grate it before adding it to the drink.
    Glass of hibiscus drink (bissap)

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    image showing cold sorrel drinks with ice cubes

    Sorrel Drink (Zobo Drink/Sobolo)

    Sorrel drink, also known as Zobo drink or Sobolo, is a tangy, refreshing, and satisfying drink that tastes amazing and is highly nutritious. Enjoy on a hot summer day or as a relaxing evening drink!
    5 from 12 votes
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    Course: Desserts
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 3kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola
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    Ingredients

    • 2 cups hibiscus leaves
    • ½ lemon
    • 2 cinnamon sticks
    • 5 tablespoon chopped ginger
    • ½ cup monk fruit sweetener or sweetener of choice
    • 10 cups of water

    Instructions

    Instructions

    • Pour the hibiscus leaves into a colander and rinse thoroughly under running water.
    • Chop the ginger into small pieces and the lemon in half.

    To make in the instant pot

    • Add the sorrel to the instant pot.
    • Add 10 cups of water, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon sticks.
    • Set the instant pot to Manual and set it to 10 mins on high pressure.
    • When it is done, let it naturally release.
    • Strain the hibiscus leaves using a fine mesh strainer.
    • While it is still hot, add your choice of low carb sweetener and mix in.
    • Let it cool down and serve chilled.

    To make on the stove

    • Add the sorrel to a pot on the strove.
    • Add 10 cups of water, lemon quarters, ginger, and cinnamon sticks.
    • Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil.
    • Turn the heat back to medium and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
    • Strain the hibiscus leaves using a fine mesh strainer.
    • While it is still hot, add your choice of low carb sweetener and mix in.
    • Let it cool down and serve chilled.

    Notes

    This recipe makes 8 cups and each serving is 0 net carbs.
    • If you're in a hurry, you can add the sweetener at the same time when boiling, but it is better to add it after straining the leaves. That way, you will only add what you need and not waste it on the leaves that will be discarded.
    • The sweetener should be added when the sorrel drink is scalding hot so that it completely dissolves. If you wait for it to cool down first, there is a chance the sweetener will mostly sink to the bottom.
    • If you want your sorrel drink to be less concentrated, dilute with water, adding one cup at a time, till you reach your desired concentration.
    • If you want a more robust ginger flavor, grate it before adding it to the sorrel.
    • The nutritional info given is for low carb sweeteners that have 0 calories and 0 carbs. If you use honey or other higher carb sweeteners or add fruit, the calorie and carb count will be higher.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 3kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jochebed says

      May 26, 2022 at 4:47 am

      Hello,
      please if i wish to use cloves, at what stage should i include it in the preparation.
      Thank you.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        June 23, 2022 at 9:38 pm

        You can add it with the other spices then boil them all together.

        Reply
    2. Joann Samuels says

      December 27, 2021 at 7:39 am

      5 stars
      Thanks for your instructions. Your step by step details are great to follow.

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        December 27, 2021 at 4:04 pm

        Thank you, Joann!

        Reply
    3. Barbs says

      January 30, 2021 at 9:59 am

      Will love to try this... monkfruit isn't available in my local grocery except I order for it, can any other sweetener work or will they leave an after taste? Stevia? Thanks

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        January 31, 2021 at 12:11 am

        Hi Barbs, you can use any of your favorite sweeteners.

        Reply
    4. michele h peterson says

      July 16, 2020 at 6:27 pm

      5 stars
      The monk fruit sweetener is a brilliant alternative to the usual white sugar its made with in Mexico. Delicious!

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 23, 2020 at 8:19 pm

        Yes, it is! My kids can't even tell the difference 🙂

        Reply
    5. Marina says

      July 16, 2020 at 1:11 pm

      5 stars
      I cannot wait to try this refreshing drink, perfect for hot summer days

      Reply
    6. Christie Gagnon says

      July 15, 2020 at 6:35 pm

      5 stars
      What a fascinating post! Healthy, pretty, and refreshing - I can't wait to give this drink a try!

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 23, 2020 at 8:36 pm

        Hope you enjoy it, Christie!

        Reply
    7. Kathryn Donangelo says

      July 15, 2020 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      This is so refreshing and made the best drink on a hot day!! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

        You're welcome, Kathryn!

        Reply
    8. Estelle Forrest says

      July 14, 2020 at 8:31 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds so good. I cannot wait to try it

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 23, 2020 at 8:20 pm

        Hope you enjoy it, Estelle!

        Reply
    9. Claire says

      July 02, 2020 at 3:36 pm

      I am trying your tea. I don’t think that I am in the right area. I am alone. I do not cook for anyone. My husband died in March. Now he was in Africa in the sixties. Like the foodetc.
      Claire

      Reply
      • Tayo says

        July 03, 2020 at 10:11 pm

        I'm sorry to hear about your husband, Claire. I hope you enjoy the hibiscus drink recipe. You can buy the hibiscus leaves from Amazon and a link is included in the recipe card.

        Reply

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