Jamaican Sorrel drink recipe
‘Tis the season, the season to indulge in the Jamaican Christmas tradition with this sorrel drink recipe. Whether using fresh sorrel or dried sorrel, the drink will come out the same. Just make sure to grab the rum, wine, and spices and make it a Jamaican Christmas in your kitchen – Unless you’re making the sorrel drink non-alcoholic.
What is Sorrel in Jamaica
In Jamaica, sorrel is the crimson red calyces of the Roselle Hibiscus plant. Sometimes referred to as the “sorrel fruit” because it is edible, and it grows with a seeded pod in its centre. Other cultures use sorrel to make tea, jam, and a sweet, but Jamaicans use it to make the spice drink consumed around the festive Christmas season.
Jamaican sorrel drink is a traditional Christmas beverage made from the edible calyxes of the Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) plant. The calyxes, called Sorrel in the Caribbean, are picked, deseeded and boiled with spices such as ginger, cinnamon, pimento berries (allspice) to create this Christmas drink. The Jamaican sorrel drink is an alcoholic beverage that uses red wine and white rum in its recipe. However, eliminating these two ingredients to make the drink non-alcoholic won’t make it taste any less.
Jamaicans on the island mainly use freshly picked Sorrel to make the drink, but dried Sorrel works just as well and can be found online or at your local supermarket. Traditionally, it is a drink during the festive season, but now that you can also find store-bought versions, it’s available year-round.
Sorrel drink origin
Like many traditional Caribbean recipes, the sorrel drink may have its roots in ancient West Africa. Even though there are sources that believe the Jamaica sorrel drink recipe traces back to West Africa and was brought to the island through the transatlantic slave trade, there is no evidence that this is true. However, countries such as Nigeria use the sorrel to make a version of the spice drink.
Jamaican style Sorrel drink ingredients
The Jamaican Sorrel drink recipe requires just seven ingredients: Sorrel, ginger, pimento berries (allspice), cinnamon (either the leaf or the stick), white rum, red wine, and sugar to taste. If pimento berries are not available to you, leave them out. Don’t use ground allspice. There are variations of this recipe that add citrus and other spices, such as star anise. But this recipe variation comes from Trinidad or Nigeria.
Below is the traditional Jamaican Sorrel drink recipe, using the fresh Sorrel fruit. If using dried Sorrel, the instructions are the same. However, you may need to add a cup or two of water to the recipe. See the recipe card below.
- Sorrel: This recipe uses fresh Sorrel, and since it is available, it’s only right that I use it. Whether you’re using fresh or dried Sorrel, make sure to clean it thoroughly before use. Get rid of any dirt, bugs and any unwanted particles. If following the recipes below and you’re using dried Sorrel, add two more cups of water.
- Ginger: Use Jamaican ginger if you can. But if not, add a little more ginger than the recipe suggests, since Jamaican ginger has a more potent flavour, so you will need a little more to get the same effect.
- Pimento (Allspice) Berries: The recipe recommends 10 berries, but you can add more if you like.
- Cinnamon: Sorrel is a spiced drink, and won’t taste the same without cinnamon. But use only the leaf or the stick, not the ground cinnamon.
- Sugar: For sweetening. Jamaicans like using brown sugar, so this recipe suggests it.
- Rum: The best white rum for this recipe is Wray & Nephew, as it is Jamaican rum with a high alcohol content.
- Red Wine: The most used red wine for the Sorrel drink recipe is Red Label Wine. Other red wines, such as Wincarnis Tonic Wine, are viable alternatives to Red Label Wine if it’s not your first choice.
How to make Jamaican style Sorrel drink
- Preparation: Start by cleaning the Sorrel, removing any unwanted particles. Then, give it a good wash. Wash the ginger, grate it or slice it into small pieces.
- Boiling process: Add the ginger and the spice to the pot with the water. On high heat, bring to a boil and cook for 3 minutes to extract the flavour from the ginger and spices. Then add the Sorrel to the pot and boil for another 5-10 minutes.
- After cooking: Leave to steep, preferably overnight or for at least 6 hours. Then strain well.
- Sweenten: Sweeten to your liking with your preferred sweetener. Then add the rum and the wine.
Jamaican Sorrel drink without alcohol
Whether you’re making the Sorrel drink with or without alcohol, the process is the same; remove the rum and wine from the recipe. Prep and boil the ingredients together as the recipe instructed, leave to steep, strain and sweeten.
Serving and storing Sorrel drink
Sorrel drink is best served cold over ice. The non-alcoholic version is also lovely served warm as a tea. Store in the refrigerator. Drinking Sorrel has many benefits, but I wouldn’t recommend drinking it every day over a long period. Even though there is no scientific evidence that drinking Sorrel every day is harmful, too much of a good thing can sometimes be unhealthy.
More Drink Recipes
Jamaican Sorrel drink recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Thoroughly wash the sorrel and remove any unwanted particles.
- Slice or grate the ginger and add it to the pot with the cinnamon, pimento, and water. On high heat, bring to a boil and boil for three minutes.
- Add the sorrel to the pot and boil for another five to ten minutes
- Turn the heat of and leave to steep overnight or for at least 12 hours
- Strain well
- Sweeten to taste with sugar.
- Add your rum and wine. Serve over ice.
Nutrition
Notes
- Sorrel – For a 4oz (100g) pack of dry sorrel, use 8 cups of water and follow the rest of the recipe and instructions.
- Pimento berries: Don’t use ground allspice. If you can’t get the berries, leave it out.
- Cinnamon: Only use cinnamon leaves or stick. Don’t use ground cinnamon.
- Ginger – Use a good amount of ginger. I used Jamaican ginger, which is stronger than other ginger, so you may have to use a bit more than I did.
- Alcohol – For a non-alcoholic Sorrel drink, exclude the rum and wine from the recipe
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First time trying sorrel and it came out great. Thank you.
Hi there, do you take the petals off of the calices or boil them whole?
What’s the difference between dried sorrel fruit and dried hibiscus flower. I bought the items before I saw the note and my package actually says both.
Hi Lesa, I know it’s not Christmas yet but found your recipe and had exactly 1lb Sorrel (some frozen, some dried and some fresh) and I wanted to try the traditional method. I used a good size ‘inch’ of grated fresh ginger and will sweeten with monk fruit (to cut back on sugar!). Will definitely use white rum though!! Can’t wait for it to finish steeping. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
Definitely how my grandmother use to make it. Thanks for sharing
Keep up the good work. Love these authentic Jamaican recipes. Best wishes to you and family.
Yum…that looks delicious. I really like rum. I love the color of this drink too…so Christmassy. Tried this recipe and wasn’t disappointed!
I’ve been on a Christmas drink kick lately. Trying different Christmas recipes and really like this one. Thank you for the recipe!
That sounds so good! I’ve actually never heard of this before, but I am soooo making it.
I’m definitely making these for New Years Eve! I love the color and the flavors.
When I first heard about this recipe, I thought I have to try it. This Christmas I did and the whole family loved it. Making it next Christmas too
Hello. I’m excited to try this recipe but I noticed that cinnamon is mentioned in the ingredients but it doesn’t say in the instructions when to add the cinnamon. Could you let me know. Thank you.
I had heard somewhere about this sorrel drink in the past but never knew the recipe. And yes the colour of the drink is so tempting. Will try it soon. Thanks for sharing !!
Thanks for sharing this recipe! Definitely going to try it soon!
Thanks for sharing this cool recipe! Perfect for any occasion or during the moment we just want to relax after a very long day. Cheers!
Made this for New Years Eve! So good and so simple! Loved it!
Been looking for this recipe since I first visited Jamaica and tried Sorrel drink. Made this and it came out just the way I remembered when I first tried sorrel drink. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi, I only have dried sorrel. Do I still use 1 lbs worth or less because it’s dried? Can I add cloves? Thanks so much!
Hi, this recipe looks great. I only have dried sorrel…do I still use 1 lbs worth or less because it’s dried? Can I add cloves to it? Thanks so much!!
It would have been helpful to advise that making your sorrel drink you do not prepare sorrel using aluminum container or store in plastic bottles.
Remembering from my Jamaican grand mother’s instructions. Sharing!!
Does not tell you quantity/measurement of each ingredient
Hi, I only have dried sorrel. Do I still use 1 lbs worth or less because it’s dried? Can I add cloves to it? Thanks so much!!
Hello Lesa, You dont need rum in the Sorrel Drink Let it sit on the counter for three days or in a dark space for three days. Refrigerate and serve. You do not have to feel guilty of serving children alcohol
I like your catalog of great recipes and good Jamaican food.thank you
Thank you 😊 for the great recipes.I will be trying them in the future Thanks for the great catalog of recipes
Great recipe!
Thank you for the great recipes.I will be trying them in the future.
I absolutely love this recipe. This is my second time making it. My family loves it. I infused it with pineapple this time around. I left the run out but plain to add a little once I pour my own cup. Letting it sit overnight improves the flavor and the rich color. Thank you for sharing!
Yes, it’s best to leave the rum out when making for the entire family, the ones who want rum add it later. Never try adding pineapple with try that some times. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I’m a British/ Jamaica. I love sorrel. I have just made 13 bottles 2 litre bottles for my Carers group Christmas dinner. This will be their welcome drink.
I love this recipe and thank you so very much for sharing it!!!
Good recipe for sorrel Christmas drink. Very authentic.
Using the dry pack, unable to get fresh sorrel. How many packs can I use to match the fresh ones you use please?
I love this recipe such as delicious recipe. Thank you for sharing this recipe with us