AI-generated photograph: A tall clear glass of deep ruby sorrel over ice with a thin wheel of lime on the rim, a cinnamon stick standing in the glass

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Caribbean · Drinks

Sorrel and ginger drink

ruby sorrel · fresh ginger · clove and orange

AI-generated photograph

A deep ruby drink of dried sorrel (the flower of a hibiscus plant) steeped with fresh ginger, cinnamon, cloves and orange peel, sweetened and served ice cold. Tart, spicy and made without alcohol.

Contains: none of the 14 allergens, as written. None of the 14 allergens is in this recipe as written.

Ingredients

  • 40g fresh ginger, sliced thinly (no need to peel)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • Half a teaspoon whole cloves (about 8)
  • 1 orange, peel only, taken off in wide strips with a peeler
  • 40g dried sorrel (dried hibiscus flowers, from world food aisles and Caribbean shops)
  • 100g demerara sugar, or to taste
  • To serve: 1 lime, thinly sliced

Plan a week with Caribbean dishes

Let's cook

  1. Put 1 litre of water in a large pan with the ginger, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange peel. Bring it to the boil and simmer for 5 minutes.
  2. Take the pan off the heat and stir in the dried sorrel. Push it under the water with a spoon.
  3. Cover and leave to steep for at least 2 hours, or overnight in the fridge once it is cool. The longer it sits, the deeper the colour and the stronger the ginger.
  4. Pour it through a fine sieve into a jug, pressing the flowers gently with a spoon. Throw away the flowers and spices.
  5. While it is still a little warm, stir in the sugar until it dissolves. Taste and add more if you like it sweeter.
  6. Chill in the fridge until very cold. Pour into glasses, over ice if you like, and add a slice of lime to each.

Tips

  • Sorrel stains cloth and wooden spoons: use a metal spoon and wipe up splashes straight away.
  • Sweeten it while it is warm: sugar dissolves slowly in cold liquid.

Swaps

  • Sparkling: fill each glass halfway with sorrel and top up with sparkling water.
  • Less sugar: use 60g sugar and add more ginger for a sharper drink.

More in the Caribbean meal plan

Our own recipe. The photograph is AI-generated.