How to Prepare Zobo Drink ( Photos)

Zobo drink also known as Zoborodo, is an ox-blood coloured  drink.

Nigerian beverage made from dried Roselle plant flowers.

Names zobo is called in different regions such as Zoborodo- In Northern Nigeria, Isapa – In Yorubas in the South Western Nigeria, Lumanda/Chibemba-In Zambia, Omulete-Namibia, Womjo- In Gambia, Rosella/Rosella fruit- In Australia, Belchanda- In Nepal, Grosella- In Paraguay, Sobolo – In Ghana, Bissap – In Niger, Senegal, Burkina faso, Benin, France, Congo and Guinea Bissau.

Jamaican Sorrel- In Caribbean & Latin America, Dah/Dah/Bleni- In Mali, Karkade- In Egypt, Sudan, & Saudi Arabia, Flor de Jamaica- In Mexico

Zobo is a popular nutritious drink filled with enormous health benefits such as treatment for urinary tract infection, It boost the function of the kidney, Great source of vitamin A, Good for diabetic patient, reduces cholesterol level.

It contains anti bacterial properties,  decreases spasms in the stomach, contains an enzyme inhibitor which hinders the production of amylase thereby lower blood pressure, acts as a cold relief

Zobo drink can be sweetened using natural sweeteners and flavors like honey, sugar cane juice, pineapple juice etc so as not to lose some of its health benefits.

Alternatively there are artificial flavors and sweeteners such as Foster clarks flavor, Nutri C, jolly juice e.t.c where natural flavours and sweetners are not available. 

Ingredients for Nigerian Zobo drink

50g Zobo leaves”Hibiscus sabdariffa”

1 big very ripe pineapple

1 glove of garlic1 big piece of ginger

Enough water

To garnish: Feel free to add any sliced citrus fruits of your choice: orange, lemon, lime or diced watermelon, cucumber, banana, thinly diced pinapple etc as to your taste.

Directions

Wash the dry zobo leaves thoroughly to remove dust

Wash the pineapple, peel and cut them into thin size ( set aside some thinly chopped ones to garnish). You can also add the back of the pineapple i.e the skin. But make sure it’s been washed thoroughly

Peel , wash and cut the ginger into tiny pieces and set aside

Place the zobo leaves into a big pot

Add the chunks of pineapple and add water just slightly above the contents of the pot

Leave to boil for 5mins under medium heat

Add the ginger and garlic, and top water to the content; allow boiling for at least 30 minutes. At this point, the Zobo and pineapple should be completely soft

Remove from heat, set aside to cool down

When it has completely cool down, sieve the Zobo leaves and pineapples to extract its juice, leaving just the juice in the pot

Pass the juice through a sieve to take off unwanted particles then again its being passed through a cotton cloth to get rid of the tinniest particles

Add any artificial flavor of your choice and stir

Pour them in bottles and refrigerate

Zobo is ready! Serve cold