Sorrel is a natural herb that most of you may already know. Each year I look forward to making my own natural sorrel drink during the holiday season. They sell them fresh in most West Indian stores or you can buy them dried in the package. I typically see dried packaged sorrel in Publix Supermarkets. Just make sure that you check the aisle with the Caribbean products.
As the holiday season rolls around, I normally start checking out the Jamaican stores or other Caribbean stores for this delicious herb to make my sorrel drink. I’ll add it to my Thanksgiving meal as well as Christmas.
When you make your own fresh, organic drink from scratch, it comes out more rich and tasty than those that are pre-made. Some people make their sorrel months in advance and put a lot of rum in it to preserve it. This is the recipe for my natural sorrel drink.
Things You’ll Need
3 cups Fresh Sorrel (less if you are using dried)
9-10 cups water
3 tablespoons grated ginger
1 tbsp pimento
2 cinnamon sticks
2 cups brown sugar
2-3 tbsp white rum
Strainer
Container
- Look through the sorrel petals carefully for dirt or other debris.
- Wash the sorrel, then drain off the water.
- Grate a piece of ginger. I like a lot of ginger, so I normally put at least 3 tablespoons in mine.
- Add the water to the pot, then add the ginger and cinnamon to the water. Bring the water to boiling point.
- Add the sorrel and pimento seeds to the pot.
- Let your sorrel boil for at least 5 minutes with the pot covered. Leave the cover on the pot and then let the steam work its way through the sorrel and the ingredients. I always leave me sorrel overnight in the water, to ensure that I get all the nutrients from the sorrel petals. The petals usually look pink after I drain the water off.
- Now this is the fun part. Mixing your sorrel drink to suit your taste. Some like it gingery, while others may like it with a strong taste of Jamaican white rum.
- Strain the sorrel juice into a separate container.
- Add your sugar, and stir with a spoon. Sorrel can be a bit tart, so you may need a good amount of sugar to make it taste right.
- Last, but not least, add your white rum for an extra kick, then serve on the rocks.
Share this nutritious, tasty drink recipe with your friends and family this holiday season, and don’t forget to drink responsibly.
Tips:
If you want to preserve your sorrel, add some raw white rice and pimento seeds after pouring it into a bottle.
To give your natural sorrel drink the extra kick, after the sorrel is boiled, grate some ginger and add it to the pot, and leave it overnight. Then strain and mix it in the morning.
