Traditional Caribbean Sorrel Recipe
Try this authentic Caribbean sorrel recipe. It’s made with dried sorrel flowers, delicious spices and is a favorite in Caribbean households.
What is Sorrel?
One of the most popular drinks in the Caribbean is sorrel. The red drink is made with fresh or dried hibiscus flowers, spices and then sweetened to perfection. Like ginger beer, while this drink is a big favorite during Christmas time and the holiday season, this fragrant beverage can be also be enjoyed any time of year.
While sorrel has it’s roots in West Africa, people in other places like Guyana, Dominica, Trinidad and Jamaica also prepare the delicious non-alcoholic drink and have made each version their own.
When To Make Sorrel
Sorrel is usually enjoyed during festive seasons like Carnival, Christmas Eve, Christmas, food festivals and holiday celebrations. Alternatively, you can make sorrel “just because”, or whenever you’re in a festive mood. Personally, I don’t need an excuse to make a batch of sorrel. I’m guessing that you already knew that.
Where to Get Sorrel
For those that don’t live in a hot climate year round, fresh sorrel is not easy to find. So this recipe for making Caribbean sorrel requires dried sorrel flowers. You should be able to find them in any Caribbean or International market. You can also buy them online here.
Ingredients (Full recipe can be found in recipe card below)
- water
- dried sorrel (hibiscus flowers)
- cinnamon sticks
- fresh ginger
- cloves
- anise pods
- vanilla extract
- orange peel (Be sure to avoid the pith or your drink will get bitter. You can use either fresh or dry)
- bay leaf
- raw sugar (to keep this recipe as nourishing as possible use raw sugar such as sucanat, panela, date sugar or maple sugar etc.)
Tips
This recipe for Caribbean sorrel uses dry sorrel flowers. If you have fresh sorrel, you may need to make some adjustments.
It is highly recommended that you let the sorrel mixture infuse for between 12-24 hours before your first sip, for strongest flavor.
Other Caribbean Beverages You May Like
Authentic Caribbean Ginger Beer
Caribbean Sorrel
Ingredients
- 3 quarts water
- 3 cups sorrel (dried sorrel flowers)
- 3/4 cup ginger (fresh, peeled and grated)
- 10 cloves (whole)
- 8 star anise (whole)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 bay leaf
- 3/4 cup sucanat (other raw sugar may be used)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 orange peel (whole peel, can use fresh or dry)
Instructions
- Peel and grate ginger.3/4 cup ginger
- Add ginger, anise, cloves, cinnamon, bay leaf, orange peel and water to a large pot.3 quarts water, 3/4 cup ginger , 8 star anise , 3 cinnamon sticks , 1 bay leaf , 1 orange peel , 10 cloves
- Boil for 10 minutes.
- Once boiled, turn off the heat, add sorrel flowers and let steep for 30 minutes.3 cups sorrel
- Strain.
- Remove the pot from heat and let the mixture cool to room temperature. Cover the pot and transfer to the fridge, letting steep for 12-24 hours for the flavors to deepen.
- Add vanilla and sugar to sweeten.1 tsp vanilla extract , 3/4 cup sucanat
- Serve chilled over ice and garnish with a cinnamon stick or slice of lime as desired.
