For 1 litre of Christmas sorrel: 30 to 40 g of dried hibiscus flowers, 1 litre of water, 100 to 130 g of sugar, 25 g of fresh ginger, 4 cloves, 1 cinnamon stick and the zest of an orange. The spices simmer for 10 minutes, then the flowers steep for 15 to 20 minutes.
Sorrel is the Caribbean holiday drink. It is made with hibiscus flowers, which are also called bissap in West Africa, and warm spices. Ruby red and fragrant, it is a must on the Christmas table. Serve it well chilled.
Ingredients
| For 1 L | For 2 L | For 5 L | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dried hibiscus flowers | 30 to 40 g | 60 to 80 g | 150 to 200 g |
| Water | 1 L | 2 L | 5 L |
| Sugar | 100 to 130 g | 200 to 260 g | 500 to 650 g |
| Fresh ginger | 25 g | 50 g | 125 g |
| Cloves | 4 | 8 | 20 |
| Cinnamon sticks | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Orange zest | 1 orange | 2 oranges | 5 oranges |
Time: 15 minutes of prep, 30 minutes of cooking and steeping, 2 hours in the fridge.
Method
- Rinse the flowers in cold water to remove any dust.
- Prepare the spices: peel and slice the ginger, then remove the orange zest in wide strips, without the white part.
- Bring the water to a boil with the ginger, cloves, cinnamon and zest. Simmer for 10 minutes over low heat.
- Add the flowers, turn off the heat and let steep for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Strain through a fine sieve or a clean cloth.
- Add the sugar while it is still hot and stir well.
- Let cool, then refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve well chilled, with an orange slice.
Frequently asked questions
What is sorrel?
It is the name the Caribbean gives to the hibiscus drink. In West Africa, it is called bissap. Sorrel is often spicier, especially at holiday time.
Which spices should I use for sorrel?
The classics are ginger, cloves, cinnamon and orange zest. You can also add 1 or 2 pinches of allspice.
How long does homemade sorrel keep?
About 3 days in the fridge, in a closed bottle or carafe. Remove the spices before storing.
Can I make it ahead for the holidays?
Yes. Make it the day before: the spices blend together and the taste becomes rounder. Serve it within 3 days.
Want to skip the measuring?
The Homemade Bissap Kit contains pre-measured sachets (1 sachet = 1 litre) and a pitcher that measures the water and sugar. Nothing to weigh, nothing to strain.
And if you'd rather drink right away: Olloa bissap in a 500 mL bottle, made in Québec.