Roselle juice

A drink made out of the flowers of the roselle plant

Roselle juice, known as bissap, wonjo, foléré, dabileni, tsobo, zobo, siiloo, soborodo or Sobolo in parts of Africa,[1] sorrel in the Caribbean, and agua de Jamaica in Mexico, is a drink made out of the flowers of the roselle plant, a species of Hibiscus. Although generally the "juice" is sweetened and chilled, it is really an infusion. When it is served hot it can be called hibiscus tea.[2][3][4]

Roselle juice
Bottles of sobolo
Alternative namesBissap, tsobo, sobolo, sorrel
Serving temperatureCold
Main ingredientsRoselle flowers, water, sugar
VariationsGinger

Description change

Roselle juice, often taken refrigerated, is a cool drink in many West African countries and the Caribbean.[5][6] It is a dark red-purple coloured juice. The Burkinabes, Senegalese, and Ivorians call it bissap. The Nigerians call it zobo. Ghanaians call it Zobolo.[7] It tastes a bit grapey and a little like cranberry juice. It can be served with mint leaves.[1] It can be served with other flavouring like orange essence or ginger, pineapple juice, tea grass or vanilla. In Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, roselle juice is served cold, while in Egypt, it is served warm.[2]

Preparation change

Roselle juice is prepared with water, bissap flowers, sugar and sometimes other flavouring ingredients such as ginger.

  • Wash bissap flowers in clean water.
  • Either pour boiling water over the flowers, or put flowers into water and allow to boil, or soak in water overnight.
  • If mixing with tea grass, you can boil together with the leaves.
  • If using boiling method, remove from fire.
  • Drain with a strainer to separate flowers from flavoured water.
  • Sweeten to taste with sugar (if not using pineapple juice).
  • Allow to cool before adding other ingredients.
  • You may add pineapple juice and other ingredients at this point.
  • Allow to cool if it is still hot, then refrigerate and serve.

Health benefits change

Roselle juice, which acts as a diuretic, regulates blood pressure and reduces hypertension.[8] It also has high levels of vitamin C, so is used to treat the common cold and otherwise boost the immune system.[2][4] Some studies have also shown antimicrobial activity.[9]

Zobo drink change

 
Dried hibiscus leaves

Zobo drink is a local drink in Nigeria. It is made from dried hibiscus leaf and other ingredients.[10] The drink is commonly sold in restaurants and on roadsides. Zobo drinks are served at parties.[11][12][13][14]

Hibiscus drink is made by boiling the hibiscus leaf with ginger and garlic for less than an hour.[10] It is served hot or chilled depending on the weather condition of the area it was produced. Other ingredients used in making zobo drink include nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, lime and artificial colours. The particles are sieved leaving behind the zobo juice. The roselle drink has flavour similar to cranberry juice and it is ruby red in colour.[15][16][17]

Hibiscus sabdariffa change

This is the major ingredient used in making zobo drink. It is a leafy vegetable similar to spinach that originates from Europe. Hibiscus sabdariffa, also known as roselle, is an annual herb that can be planted all year round especially between November and the April of the next year.[18] Hibiscus sabdariffa is otherwise known as spinach dock, sour grass, or sour grabs.[19]

Other names change

Zobo drink is also known as hibiscus tea, hibiscus drink and roselle drinks because the beverage drink is made from hibiscus leaves. Also it is known as local Chapman since other fruits and artificial colours are added. Due to the sour taste of zobo drink, it is refer to as sour tea as well.[20][21]

Preservatives change

There are two types of preservatives used in production of zobo tea, the natural ones are nutmeg, lime and cloves .[15][22] Sodium benzoate at a concentration of 0.1% or mixture of citric acid and magnesium sulfate are the chemical compounds used in preserving zobo drink for a longer time and make it carbon-free. The artificial preservatives are neutralized with fruit juice in order to conserve the sour taste of the leaf during production.[23][24]

Related pages change

References change

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Sobolo (Bissap Drink)". Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "My Sobolo". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  3. Online, Peace FM. "Health Benefits Of Sobolo". www.peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Reasons to drink more Sobolo". Ghana Web. 17 March 2017.
  5. "GES investigates teacher's assault of student who criticised her 'sobolo' drink". MyJoyOnline.com. 2020-02-17. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  6. Online, Peace FM. "Woman Quits Journalism To Sell 'Sobolo'". www.peacefmonline.com. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  7. Agyeman, Adwoa (2020-02-17). "GES investigates teacher's assault of pupil over 'sobolo' drink". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  8. Hopkins, A. L.; Lamm, M. G.; Funk, J. L.; Ritenbaugh, C. (2013). "Hibiscus sabdariffa L. In the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia: A comprehensive review of animal and human studies". Fitoterapia. 85: 84–94. doi:10.1016/j.fitote.2013.01.003. PMC 3593772. PMID 23333908.
  9. Oboh, G.; Elusiyan, C. A. (2004). "Nutrient Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Sorrel Drinks (Soborodo)". Journal of Medicinal Food. 7 (3): 340–342. doi:10.1089/jmf.2004.7.340.
  10. 10.0 10.1 "How To Make Zobo Drink In Ten Easy Steps". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2022-09-05.
  11. "Benefits of taking Zobo". The Nation Newspaper. 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  12. "How To Make Zobo Drink In Ten Easy Steps". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2017-08-31. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  13. "How to harness health benefits of zobo drink". Daily Trust. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  14. Online, Tribune (2021-02-18). "Why regular consumption of zobo drink with hypertension medication should be avoided —Expert". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  15. 15.0 15.1 "How to prepare zobo drink". The Nation Newspaper. 2019-07-20. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  16. onnaedo (2015-09-08). "How to make Zobo drink". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  17. "Goodlife introduces another drink; Zobo Ginger variant - Premium Times Nigeria". 2022-03-02. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  18. "The good and the bad sides of 'zobo' drink". Punch Newspapers. 2016-12-29. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  19. Online, Tribune (2022-03-05). "Chilled zobo drink for the weather". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  20. "Goodlife Zobo Ginger drink unveiled during Showtime Friday". Vanguard News. 2022-03-01. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  21. omotolani (2022-03-03). "7 health benefits of zobo drink (Hibiscus tea)". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  22. "Physical and chemical preservation of zobo drink". ResearchGate.
  23. "Making Money From Zobo Drink Production". Independent Newspaper Nigeria. 2022-05-20. Retrieved 2022-07-01.
  24. "Preservatives in zobo drink". ResearchGate.

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