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The Best Trinidad Sorrel Drink

December 23, 2014 By Deborah LB 15 Comments

A Trini Christmas is not the same without a true trinidad sorrel drink, ponche o creme or black cake ,well at least in my household it is , (scientific name Hibiscus Sabdariffa)

You know it’s christmas time in Trinidad when you see vans parked on the side of roadways filled with the bright red sorrel.

Sorrel— belongs to the hibiscus family and is a short shrub that bears flowers quite like ochro and hibiscus. Once the flower falls off, the calyx at the base of the flower swells and thickens and grows to cover the seed capsule. This cover is what we know as sorrel and is used in the delicious drink of the same name. – Trinidad Guardian

So here is my version of a True Trini Sorrel Drink. Make it a delicious cocktail by adding some alcohol.

The Best Trinidad Sorrel Drink 

A Trinidad Sorrel Drink

In Trinidad  Christmas wouldn’t be the same without Sorrel.

And yes, there is  rum in most of the drinks , we just love our rum drinks during the holidays!

But Hey! the drinks are still superb without rum.

The sorrel flower is in full bloom at Christmas time in Trinidad and most of the Caribbean so that’s one of the reasons it’s traditionally considered a holiday drink.

But with dried sorrel being manufactured and exported, you can have this delicious drink all year round.

The flavor of Sorrel is like cranberry and raspberry with a hint of pineapple. 

Read More About Sorrel  Here


 When  I was growing up in the Caribbean, I never saw dried sorrel, it’s only since I have been living in the United States I have seen the dried variety

SORRELBBLOGThis  Sorrel  drink below was made using fresh Sorrel and has a much lighter color in appearance in comparison to the dried sorrel

sorrel


This Sorrel drink below was  made  using the dried Sorrel ,  if you notice  it  is much darker in color than the fresh Sorrel above, but taste just as good.

sorrelpYou will find dried sorrel in any West Indian or Latin market in the USA, or you can always order it from Amazon

Serves 16

Serving Size: 12

216

Trinidad Sorrel Drink

A refreshing Caribbean holiday drink. Take it up a notch by adding some spiced rum for a delicious adult cocktail.

10Prep Time

60Cook Time

300Total Time

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4.7 based on 3 review(s)

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Ingredients

  • 4.5 - 5 ounces dried sorrel
  • 2- 3 cups sugar or sugar substitute
  • 1 small piece of fresh ginger. (about 1 inch) or a knuckle
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 4-inch piece orange peel
  • 1 gallon of water (16 cups) plus 4 more cups
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract or mixed essence

Method

  1. Bring 16 cups water to a boil , add , cinnamon sticks , whole cloves , bay leaves and ginger.
  2. Stir continuously while boiling for 1 minute, cover and allow to simmer on low for 30 minutes.
  3. Add Sorrel ,sugar , orange peel and remaining 4 cups water , continue on simmer for another 30 more minutes.
  4. Let steep for about 4 hours or overnight, covered.
  5. Using a sieve ,strain and squeeze sorrel flowers, then discard.
  6. Add vanilla,taste for strength and sweetness. If it is to potent, add water, if it’s to tart add more sugar.
  7. Pour into glass jars or bottles and store in a cool place until ready to use.

Notes

If you are using the fresh sorrel,there is no need to boil the sorrel, just follow the same steps and after adding the sorrel,cover pan and turn off the flame and allow to steep for a minimum of 4 - 8 hours and up to 24 hours.

Nutrition

7.8.1.2
72
http://www.simplycaribbean.net/best-trinidad-sorrel-drink/
All Rights Reserved, Please link back to us if you try one of our recipes.

Nutrition

Calories: 216 cal
Carbohydrates: 54 g
Sodium: 16 g
Protein: 1 g
Fiber: 3 g

Filed Under: All Recipes, Tropical Drinks Tagged With: caribbean cocktail, caribbean sorrel drink, christmas drink, sorrel, trinidad sorrel drink, tropical drinks

Previous Post: « Calypso Rice for the Holidays
Next Post: Watermelon Pomegranate Toss Salad »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarAuwal Mahmoud

    January 13, 2020 at 5:55 pm

    Great recipe thanks for sharing
    Reply
  2. AvatarMamaniyah

    January 1, 2020 at 3:15 pm

    Hi thanks for this but I grew up in Trinidad and left as an adult, drank sorrel north and south even east and west but never have I heard we Trini’s include ginger in our sorrel. Is that another island style?
    Reply
    • Deborah LBDeborah LB

      January 23, 2020 at 10:40 pm

      The ginger is just my own thing, I love ginger and it's really good in drinks.
      Reply
  3. AvatarKathleen

    December 9, 2019 at 4:17 pm

    Great recipe. Compiling a book of recipes and wanted to use the pictures you included, would that be fine, please? Thanks.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Deborah LBDeborah LB

      December 11, 2019 at 10:59 am

      please send me an email to discuss further
      Reply
  4. AvatarLima Lewis-Guy

    June 26, 2019 at 8:17 am

    I'm excited to behold your work and love that you encourage your viewers to explore new ideas to create unique dishes and taste. As a fellow TnT national you inspire me to try some ideas with my favorite drink - Sorrel. I may go overboard with many others also. Thanks for stirring up my creative genius. Great work. Blessings.
    ★★★★★
    Reply
    • Deborah LBDeborah LB

      October 29, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you
      Reply
  5. AvatarSharida Ali

    October 13, 2017 at 3:11 am

    Deborah.I will be using your recipe to make this sorrel drink.I have never tried making this drink.Thank you so much for making almost all of your recipes available to us for trying .You are truly a special person.And there are many reasons ,i am saying this to you.Thank for sharing your cooking talent for the ones like my self.I just happened to come across you 2-night on face book .With a great cassava pone recipe.I will be trying the recipe also.But I will have to print the other recipe out,at a latter day.This weekend.
    Reply
    • Debra LB.Debra LB.

      October 13, 2017 at 7:27 am

      Thank you, please let me know how it comes out!
      Reply
  6. AvatarKrista

    January 8, 2015 at 3:43 pm

    I nominated you for a One Lovely Blog award! Congrats! You can see your nomination here: http://www.thequinntessentialmommy.com/writing/one-lovely-blog/
    Reply
  7. AvatarChef William Chaney

    January 7, 2015 at 10:02 pm

    I really think I will enjoy this recipe. We make the drink in Mexico with out the bay leaves or vanilla and it took me forever to get my wife to add the ginger but it does make a big difference. We don't just drink it at Christmas but almost every day during the Hot weather in Mexico...Haven't tried adding a splash of rum but I will the next time we make a batch..I enjoy it so much more than soda. Thanks for sharing your recipe
    Reply
    • Debra LB.Debra LB.

      October 13, 2017 at 7:50 am

      Awesome!
      Reply
  8. Deborah LBDeborah LB

    May 22, 2020 at 4:32 pm

    Thank you follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/simplycaribbean1/
    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Trinidad and Tobago: sorrel – Vegan Physicist says:
    April 2, 2020 at 6:39 pm
    […] D., “Best Trinidad Sorrel Drink,” Simply Caribbean, 23-Dec-2014. [Online]. Available: https://www.simplycaribbean.net/best-trinidad-sorrel-drink/?v=3e8d115eb4b3. [Accessed: […]
    Reply
  2. An Island Christmas by Lynn Joseph – Caribbean Children's Books says:
    December 20, 2019 at 11:09 pm
    […] Best Trinidad Sorrel Drink recipe from Simply Caribbean […]
    Reply

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Meet Deborah

Debra LB.Welcome! Welcome!
Hi, I'm Deborah , Founder and Food writer here on Simply Caribbean!
I am very passionate about Caribbean Food and you will see that in all my creative dishes.. Try my recipes, leave a comment , let's revolutionize Caribbean food.
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