LounjeLounjePlan my week

Zobo Drink with Ginger and Cloves

Also known as Zobo Drink with Ginger and Cloves (Therapeutic)

Zobo — the beloved Nigerian hibiscus drink made from dried Roselle flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa) — is simultaneously one of Nigeria's most pleasurable drinks and one of its most therapeutically documented. The deep red-purple Roselle flowers contain anthocyanins, flavonoids, polyphenols and hydroxycitric acid that have been clinically studied for their blood-pressure-lowering, cholesterol-reducing, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Zobo Drink with Ginger and Cloves, Nigerian cooking

Ingredients

  • 3 big cups of dried Zobo leaves (dried Roselle flowers / Hibiscus sabdariffa)
  • A very big piece of fresh ginger, peeled and roughly sliced
  • 2 big big tablespoons of whole cloves
  • 2 sticks of cinnamon — optional
  • 8 glasses of water
  • Pineapple peels from 1 pineapple — for natural sweetness and flavour
  • Honey or a small amount of sugar to taste — use minimally in the therapeutic version
  • Fresh lemon juice — squeezed in at the end to brighten and preserve

Method

  1. 01

    Rinsing the Zobo Leaves. Place the dried Zobo leaves in a colander and rinse briefly under cold water to remove any dust or debris.

  2. 02

    Boiling with Therapeutic Spices. Place the rinsed Zobo leaves, sliced ginger, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and pineapple peels in a large pot. Add 8 glasses of water. Bring to a vigorous boil over high heat. Boil for 20 minutes — the water will turn a deep, beautiful crimson-red. The more vigorously and longer you boil, the more of the therapeutic compounds are extracted.

  3. 03

    Straining. Remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly. Strain through a fine sieve or muslin cloth, pressing the leaves firmly to extract every drop of the deeply coloured liquid.

  4. 04

    Sweetening. Add honey or a very small amount of sugar to taste. For the full therapeutic version, use as little sweetener as possible — the pineapple peel provides some natural sweetness and the hibiscus has a pleasant tartness of its own. Stir well. Add the juice of 1 lemon.

  5. 05

    Chilling and Serving. Allow to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Serve very cold over ice for maximum refreshment.

More health & therapeutic recipes