How To Make Zobo Drink (Sobolo Drink Recipe)

It’s easy to make Zobo drink, also known as Sobolo drink, at home! This spiced hibiscus tea can be served hot or cold. 

Forget about getting a hibiscus drink from a coffee shop. The Zobo drink from Nigeria is a refreshing beverage you should try ASAP. 

This popular drink is made from Sorrel leaves and infused with flavorful aromatics like ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. 

Serve your Sobolo hot or cold, and you’ll be pleased either way. 

What is Zobo Drink?

Zobo drink, also known as Sobolo, Sorrel drink, Bissap, and hibiscus tea, is a popular ruby-colored Nigerian drink made from dried Roselle leaves.

You can say that without hibiscus leaves, you can’t make Zobo drink as it’s the reason behind the beverage’s unique flavor and beautiful vivid color. 

Not to confuse it with another delicious red drink, the Chapman, the Nigerian Zobo does not contain sodas or Angostura bitters. 

Instead, Sobolo is more of an herbal beverage. 

This is not to say that the Zobo drink can’t be enjoyed at parties and special events. 

But because it’s delicious, whether hot or cold, this refreshment is something you can easily have casually. As a young child, this hibiscus tea was something we looked forward to enjoying during the school breaks!

Why You’ll Love This Hibiscus Tea Recipe

• Easy: Do not be intimidated by its many names because the Zobo drink is definitely a doable homemade drink. You’ll just add the ingredients one after the other, boil them, and strain. 
• Nourishing: If you need more convincing to make and try the Nigerian hibiscus drink, take a look at its health benefits! To name a few, this refreshing tea supports digestion and boosts immunity. 
• Delicious: Enjoy your Zobo hibiscus drink chilled to keep cool on a hot day or hot, perfect while relaxing at night. Sobolo is a tasty blend of flowers, aromatic herbs, and sweet pineapple! 

What Does Zobo Taste Like?

Zobo, as you can expect from a hibiscus tea, tastes somewhat fruity and tart. Some people compare this flavor to cranberry juice, which makes it the perfect companion to sweets. 

However, the Sorrel drink is not a boring, one-dimensional beverage. Each sip is balanced.

You’ll get the familiar tart, floral flavor from the Zobo leaves, spicy, earthy flavor from the warm spices, zing from fresh ginger, tropical touch from the pineapple chunks, and just the right sweetness from the sugar.

You can also use any sweetener of choice.

Some people even make their Sobolo with lemon, cucumber, and mint!

What Is Zobo Drink Made From?

• Dried Zobo leaves – The main component of our hibiscus tea. 
• Water – For boiling the ingredients. 
• Ripe pineapple chunks or rind – Adds a natural sweetness to the Sobolo drink.
• Ginger – If you prefer a stronger ginger flavor, use grated ginger.
• Cloves – Adds a delightful warm flavor to the tart and fruity hibiscus tea. 
• Cinnamon stick – Customize your Sorrel drink with any spice of choice!
• Sugar – This is optional. Some people even prefer their Zobo drink unsweetened!

Tools Needed To Prepare Sorrel Drink

• Pot for boiling the ingredients
• Colander for straining the tea
• Cheesecloth for straining the tea (we’ll strain the mixture twice, so it’s nice and smooth to drink)

Ingredient Additions & Substitutions For African Hibiscus Tea

Here are a few substitutions and additions you can try when preparing this African hibiscus drink:

Additions

You can try so many additions with this easy Zobo hibiscus drink. Here are some popular options: 

• Watermelon –For extra sweetness.
• Orange – For a citrus boost.
• Citrus liqueur– For a boozy take.
• Cucumber – A refreshing addition to a cold glass of Zobo drink.
• Fresh mint leaves – Another perfect addition, especially when having this Nigerian hibiscus drink in summer. 

Sugar substitutes

If you’re comfortable drinking tea without sugar, you’ll enjoy this Nigerian hibiscus flower drink without the extra calories.

But if you have a sweet tooth, as I do, here are my favorite sweeteners for the Zobo drink:

• Honey
• Monk fruit sweetener

How to Make Zobo Drink

There are several ways to make the Zobo drink. It all comes down to personal preference.

But for this recipe, I’ll show you how to make a Nigerian Zobo drink with pineapple and ginger for the perfect kick!

Ingredients:

• 2 to 4 cups dried Zobo leaves
• 8 cups of water
• Ripe pineapple chunks or rind
• 6 thumbs of ginger
• 2 tbsp cloves (optional)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 cups of sugar (as needed)

Tools you need:

• Pot
• Colander
• Cheesecloth

Instructions:

STEP 1: Rinse the Zobo leaves under running water. Make sure to remove any dust and dirt.

STEP 2: Place the cleaned leaves into a large pot over medium heat. Add the water, pineapple chunks, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon stick.

STEP 3: Bring the mixture to a boil. Then, allow it to simmer for about 30 minutes.

STEP 4: Turn off the heat. Add sugar to taste.

STEP 5: Allow your Zobo drink to cool. Strain out the liquid using a colander, then a cheesecloth.

STEP 6: Pour the Sorrel drink into a jug and refrigerate.

STEP 7: Serve cold and garnish with fruits. Enjoy!

What To Serve With Zobo

You can garnish your cold drink with fresh orange slices, lemon zest, pineapple chunks, or cucumber slices. It’s the perfect refreshment for summer!

But if you won’t have your Sobolo chilled and prefer it to be more like a warm tea, add spices like all-spice, star anise, or vanilla. I think these flavors will be great for fall. 

Want a unique take on the hibiscus tea? Try it with peppers for a spicy kick! 

Or, for a filling snack, serve the refreshing Zobo with other tantalizing Nigerian snacks. 

Choose from Nigerian buns, Nigerian fish rolls, Puff Puffs, and Nigerian meat pies. I bet you won’t be able to stop with just one piece. 

Tips About Making Nigerian Zobo Drink

• Another way to prepare the Zobo drink is to blend the pineapple chunks with ginger and water until smooth, then add that mixture to the hibiscus tea and boil for 5 minutes.
• Add your sugar while the Zobo drink is still scalding hot after straining the leaves. This way, your sugar will dissolve completely and won’t sink to the bottom.
• To serve your Sobolo drink warm, remove it from heat once it’s boiling. Then, steep. The longer you let it steep, the deeper the flavors will develop. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, and enjoy! 

How To Store Sobolo Drink

Zobo drink is best enjoyed freshly made. But if you made a big batch or have some leftovers, here’s how to store Sobolo:

• Fridge: Transfer your Sorrel drink to a jug and keep it in the fridge for 5 to 7 days. However, I suggest consuming it within 2 days in the fridge for the best taste. I also do not recommend leaving Zobo at room temperature for over 24 hours. 
• Freezer: For longer storage, you can also freeze your hibiscus tea for up to 3 months!
• Serving: If from the fridge and you want to drink your African hibiscus tea drink warm, reheat it over the stove until you reach your desired temperature. If it’s frozen, thaw the drink in the fridge overnight.

How to Make Zobo Thick?

Some prefer their Zobo drink thick and really concentrated. But how can you achieve this?

For Team Thick Zobo, what you want to do is use more leaves and less water in your mixture. Some also say allowing the tea to simmer helps it achieve a thicker consistency. 

Why is My Zobo Bitter?

Zobo can taste bitter because of some of the ingredients added to the tea.

Be mindful of how much cloves, ginger, and pineapple peel you’ll use to the mixture so your Zobo drink won’t have a bitter aftertaste. 

FAQ About Zobo Drink

What country is Zobo from?

The Zobo drink originated from the Northern parts of Nigeria. 

What is Zobo drink called in English?

Zobo drink is also known as hibiscus drink, hibiscus tea, or Sorrel drink. 

Is Zobo drink alcoholic?

Nope. Zobo drink is made from steeping dried Roselle leaves. Although, if you want a spiked Zobo drink, the fruity drink might work with rum. 

Can sugar be added to Zobo drink?

Of course! The tangy, spiced hibiscus tea can be sweetened to taste with sugar.

How many minutes do you cook Zobo?

You want to boil the Zobo leaves for at least 30 minutes. 

Conclusion

This is your sign to try the Zobo drink! This festive drink’s vivid ruby color indicates its amazing flavor. 

It’s tart, earthy, floral, tropical, and sweet. You can even play with different flavor variations for this African tea recipe. 

So, whether you need something refreshing on a hot day or looking to relax at home with something warm and comforting, make yourself this Nigerian drink. 

I hope you found this Nigerian Zobo drink recipe helpful. And if this African refreshment delighted you, you’ll love our equally easy and tasty Nigerian foods. Don’t know where to start? Here are a few of my personal faves:

• Nigerian Chapman: Revamped Slushy Mocktail Recipe
• Authentic Nigerian Fried Rice Recipe
• How to Make Moin Moin: Nigerian Moi Moi Recipe
• The Best Nigerian Salad Recipe: Nigerian Vegetable Salad In 10 Minutes!
• World’s Best Nigerian Jollof Spaghetti Recipe