Sorrel is mainly enjoyed during the holidays, but honestly, I indulge all year round. That said, there’s no denying that I love seeing it sitting alongside a pitcher of eggnog in a festive punchbowl. Additionally, sans the rum, it’s the perfect non-alcoholic option for any partygoers who don’t drink.
What is Sorrel Drink?
Sorrel drink is a wine-hued drink made from sorrel or hibiscus calyces. What is a calyx? It’s the fleshy part of the flower that wraps the seeds. After the petals fall off and the seed pods develop, you’ll see a lovely tart drink ingredient. This drink is popular in West Africa. It’s also called Zobo drink in Nigeria. The sorrel plant is also prolific throughout the Caribbean, where it’s simply called jamaica. That’s why you may hear people call it “Jamaican sorrel drink.” Its refreshing nature is thanks to combining sorrel calyces with other tropical spices and fruits. So good! A splash of rum gives you an awesome Jamaican rum punch. Oh yeah!
Jamaican Sorrel Drink Ingredients
Water – You need this ingredient to dissolve the sugar. That’s it.Sugar – The key ingredient for your simple syrup adds sweetness, of course. It also balances your sorrel drink’s tartness.Dried Red Sorrel Calyces – The main ingredient for our drink. It comes from the flor de Jamaica or hibiscus flower and has an herbal, floral taste.Ginger – With pungent spiciness and a hint of sweetness, ginger also adds a whole layer of flavor to sweet drinks and dishes. Lime – The citrusy taste of lime adds a pleasant zing to this sorrel drink.Peppercorns – Spicy black pepper doesn’t give off much heat, but it does add a fresh layer of flavor.Cinnamon Stick – A sweet, aromatic taste adds excitement and flavor to this drink.Hot Water – I suggest using warm to hot water for this recipe. Your goal is to extract as much deliciousness from all the other ingredients as possible. Too hot, though, and some of the ingredients might react negatively.Orange – Its mild and sweet fruity flavor adds a terrific tropical flair.Rum – You can use as much or as little as you like to give your sorrel drink just the right amount of kick and turn it into a delicious Jamaican rum punch. Or you can omit it for a refreshing kid-friendly drink.
Alternative Ingredients
Lime – The unique lime flavor pairs really well with this drink, but lemon will still give your drink a citrusy tang.Rum – A whiskey, brandy, or gin shot goes well with this recipe. Or do if you wanna make a non-alcoholic version of this drink, just leave the rum out altogether. Sugar – You can substitute the sugar with honey or another natural sweetener of your choice.
Tips and Tricks
Sorrel calyces are becoming increasingly available at major shopping market chains, so they’re pretty easy to find. If your local grocer doesn’t carry them, try an international market. African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and Asian markets usually sell fresh or dried sorrel calyces. They’re also labeled as sorrel, hibiscus, or flor de Jamaica. Keep in mind that dried sorrel works just as well as fresh! 🌺 Use this recipe as a guide and customize it however you like. You can add more or less flavoring, add ingredients, leave some out, or use as much water as you see fit – there’s no cut and dry way to make a sorrel drink, really. You can personalize it however you want.😉
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can definitely make this drink a day or two ahead. Just keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve – it’s that simple!
Serving and Storage
Serve sorrel drink over ice and make it extra pretty with some tropical garnishes. I like to adorn the glass rims with a slice of orange or lime, and sometimes I also add a cinnamon stick to each glass. 🤩
What Goes with Sorrel Drink
Sorrel drinks sit so pretty beside homemade eggnog and rum punch at parties and social events. Its refreshing nature also makes a good contrast with hearty dishes, such as stuffed pork loin roast or roast turkey breast.
More Delicious Drink Recipes
Homemade EggnogStrawberry DaiquiriCoquitoPeach BelliniTropical SangriaMimosa Drink
How to Make Sorrel Drink
Make a Simple Syrup
Bring Simple Syrup Ingredients to Boil – Bring 2 cups of water with 1 cup of sugar to a boil in a medium bowl or pot. (Photo 2)Simmer ingredients until the sugar has completely dissolved.Cool – Then set aside and allow the syrup to cool.
Prepare the Ingredients
Mix Flavorings – Place the sorrel, ginger, lime, peppercorns, and cinnamon stick in a large bowl. (Photo 3)Add Hot Water – Gently pour boiled water into the bowl of sorrel. (Photo 4)Steep – Let it steep for about 45 minutes or longer. You can also steep it overnight in the fridge for a more potent flavor. (Photo 5)
Serve
Strain the ingredients with a fine sieve and discard all solids. Pour the drink into a pitcher for serving. (Photos 6-8)Final Touches – According to your preference, add as much simple syrup as desired, together with rum and orange slices. Serve over ice.
Watch How to Make It
[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”PMnWMxZf” upload-date=”2019-12-11T12:40:33.000Z” name=”Sorrel Drink” description=”Sorrel Drink – a spiced up floral drink that will keep you going from now till the holiday season. Refreshingly good!” player-type=”static”] This blog post was first published in August 2015 and has been updated with an additional write-up, photos, and a video.
