Jamaican Sorrel Drink (Hibiscus Ginger Drink)
In short: Ruby-red drink steeped from dried sorrel (hibiscus) with fresh ginger, allspice and cloves, sweetened and served over ice at Christmas. It takes about 20 min in total and makes 8 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Resting
- 8 h
- Total
- 20 min
- Servings
- 8
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 75 kcal
Sorrel is the Jamaican Christmas drink, brewed from the dried red calyces of the sorrel plant, a type of hibiscus. The petals are steeped overnight with fresh ginger, allspice berries and cloves, then strained, sweetened and served chilled. The color is deep ruby and the taste is tart, spicy and fruity. Many families add white rum, and bottles of sorrel are given as gifts in December. It is also a refreshing cold drink at any time of year.
Instructions
- Rinse the sorrel in cold water and drain.
- Bring the water to a boil in a large pot with the ginger, allspice, cloves, cinnamon and orange peel. Boil for 5 minutes.
- Add the sorrel, remove the pot from the heat, cover, and steep for at least 8 hours or overnight.
- Strain through a fine sieve, pressing the sorrel to release its color.
- Stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Taste and add more sugar if you like, or dilute with cold water if the drink is too strong.
- Chill thoroughly and serve over ice, with a splash of rum if you like.
Tips
- Dried sorrel is sold in Caribbean, Latin American and international markets, sometimes as flor de jamaica or hibiscus flowers. Use the same weight.
- Make a concentrate with only 1 liter of water and dilute it to taste with cold or sparkling water when serving.
Questions and answers
Is sorrel the same as hibiscus tea?
Yes, both come from the dried calyces of the hibiscus plant. Jamaican sorrel adds fresh ginger and warm spices and is sweetened and served chilled.
How long does sorrel drink keep?
In a clean, covered bottle in the refrigerator it keeps for about a week. Adding rum extends the keeping time.
Is sorrel drink caffeine free?
Yes, it contains no caffeine. Hibiscus can lower blood pressure slightly, so check with your doctor if you take medication for it.
How long does it take to make Jamaican Sorrel Drink (Hibiscus Ginger Drink)?
About 20 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 10 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Jamaican Sorrel Drink (Hibiscus Ginger Drink)?
About 75 kcal per serving, with 0 g of protein, 19 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 75 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 19 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 18 g |
| Sodium | 10 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
