Caribbean Sorrel Drink Recipe 🍹 [+VIDEO] | MasalaHerb.com (2024)

Published: Dec 24, 2018 · Modified: Dec 9, 2022 by Helene Dsouza

Caribbean Sorrel Drink is my Christmas drink obsession!

Made from scratch, I additionally spike it with rum, turning this amazing Trinidadsorrel drink into a holiday highlight.

Sunita, originally from Trinidad, introduced me to this wonderful beverage prepared with flower buds.

Her brother was so kind to send us some pictures from the flower fields growing right now in Trinidad and Tobago.

📕 What is Sorrel drink?

Sorrel drink is a traditional Christmas beverage from the Caribbeans, prepared with the Rosellehibiscus flower variety and spices.

The ruby-red sorrel drink is popular during the holidays on the islands such as Trinidad and Tobago, as well as Jamaica (just to name a few). The dried flowers color the water red.

Sorrel drinks should not be confused with the green, sour sorrel leaves! Sorrel leaves have nothing in common with the sorrel beverage, except the name because it's another plant variety.

🔪 How to make it?

Here is an overview of how to make this drink from scratch.

Step 1

Pour water and roselle into a pot with spices, cinnamon, clove, and star anise.

Step 2

Steep the Roselle flowers and spices to infuse the water.

Take from the heat, strain, and allow it to cool completely.

Step 3

Add ice cubes to the glass, sweeten and pour in cooled hibiscus tea.

Add white rum (optional) and mix it up.

🍋 Variation Ideas

Here are some ingredients that you can add for flavor.

• orange zest - use zest from untreated (no pesticides) oranges. Add it to the other ingredients during cooking process.
• lemon or lime slices - untreated only. Can be added with the ice cubes during
• pimento - aka allspice, can be used instead of cinnamon, star anise and cloves.

🍱 Storing and Serving

You can serve your sorrel drink in a glass, in a pitcher or you can turn it into a part bowl.

Keep it cooled at all times.

The cooked dried flowers need to be strained and discarded right after the cooking process.

The infused spiced sorrel drink is good for at least 3 days if refrigerated.

🌸 What is Roselle?

Roselle is the red bulboushibiscus variety.

People call Roselle sometimes sorelletoo and in some parts of America, it is better known as flor de Jamaica.

The flower of the roselle plant is used as an infusion in the American/Caribbean peninsula and in Africa.

In Asia, local regional tribes and people tend to use theroselle leaves instead of the buds.

Red Roselle flower buds can be used fresh or dried.

That way the flower buds are infused in boiling water or alcohol such as rum.

Roselle originated in Africa and people prepare a plain roselle infusion (minus the spices) all year round in the French-speaking African countries.

💖 Flower benefits

Sorrel is quite a health bomb!

Turns out you do well to enjoy this healthier Christmas time beverage because the hibiscus flowers pack a punch in nutrients and health benefits.

These are some of the Rosella health benefits:

• lowers blood sugar (heart health)
• promotes liver health (hangover help)
• may boost weight loss
• rich in antioxidants (prevents the future formation of cancer cells)
• cooles you down (thirst quencher in the heat)
• may be good for pregnant ladies

💭 FAQs

👁️ More flower recipes

• Elderflower Cordial
• Elderflower Gin co*cktail with lemon
• Dandelion Jelly
• Lavender Infused Water

Dear Reader, have you ever come across Sorell? If yes where?

📖 Recipe