Roselle juice

'Roselle juice, known as bissap, wonjo, foléré, dabileni, tsobo, zobo, 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 variety of Hibiscus. Although generally the "juice" is sweetened and chilled, it is technically an infusion and when served hot can also be referred to as hibiscus tea.[2][3][4]

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

Overview

Roselle juice, often taken refrigerated, is a cool drink found 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 while the Ghanaians and Nigerians call it sobolo.[7] It tastes a bit grapey and a little like cranberry juice and can be served with mint leaves.[1] It can also be served with any flavouring of one's choice — sometimes with orange essence or ginger, pineapple juice, tea grass, vanilla, and many others. In Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal, roselle juice is served cold, while in Egypt, it is served warm.[2]

Preparation

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

  • Wash your 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

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

References
  1. "Sobolo (Bissap Drink)". Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  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. "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.

Video: How to make Sobolo


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