Sorrel Drink (Zobo 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 it on a hot summer day or as a relaxing evening drink!

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. 

❤️ Why you'll love it

I love zobo drink because it is cheap, easy to make, and 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.

You can serve it chilled or warm, depending on the season and what you're 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 African countries, it is made all year round as part of a healthy, refreshing, and affordable beverage.

Health 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.

Sorrel benefits:

• 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.
• Some studies have shown that it reduces body mass index and aids in weight loss.

🥘 Equipment Used

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To make this sorrel drink, you'll need a colander, Instant Pot, or large pot, and a spoon to stir in the sweetener.

🧾 Ingredients Used

• Dried hibiscus leaves: You can get the dried leaves 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, fresh ginger, and cinnamon sticks are my favorite flavors to spice up 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 cane 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, which makes a strong brew. You can add more water or even dilute it after it's done.

🔪 How To Make Sorrel Drink

In the Instant Pot

1. Rinse 2 cups of hibiscus leaves to remove sand or dirt.
2. Pour the leaves into a colander and rinse thoroughly under running water. You will notice that the water draining out is red in color, but don't worry, there is still a lot of juicy red liquid left in the leaves.
3. Chop the ginger into small pieces and cut the lemon in half.
4. Add the sorrel and 10 cups of water, lemon, ginger, and cinnamon sticks to the instant pot. 
5. 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.
6. After it is done, let it release naturally. The longer it sits, the deeper the red color and the stronger the flavor. 
7. Using a fine-mesh strainer, strain the sorrel drink so that only the liquid remains, then add your sweetener.
8. Stir in the sweetener and let it cool. Add a few ice cubes to a glass and serve chilled. 

On the Stove

1. Place the hibiscus leaves, water, cinnamon stick, ginger, and lemon in a pot on high heat and bring to a boil. 
2. When it boils, turn the heat down to medium and let it simmer for 15-20 minutes.
3. Strain and add the sweetener. Let it cool down, then chill and serve.

🥫 Storing and Reheating

It keeps well for about a week in the fridge. You can keep it longer, but it might not taste as fresh. If you prefer to drink this red drink warm, simply heat it in a pot on the stove until it reaches your desired temperature.

💭 Helpful Tips

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

💭 Recipe Variations

Try these flavor variations to make this nutritional drink your own!

• 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 this Jamaican drink with white rum for a festive drink! You can also add nutmeg or all-spice for those earthy fall flavors.
• Fruity: To make sorrel punch more fruity, add lime, lemon zest, or orange peel. Serve chilled with cucumber slices. 
• Nigerian: 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.

🍽️ What Goes Well With Sorrel Drink?

Since Sorrel drink is popular during the holiday season, it's perfect to pair with your Christmas dinner. It's also light and refreshing in the summer with Barbecue Shrimp Skewers or to cool down after eating these Spicy Chicken Wings.

👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

📖 Recipe