This Jamaican sorrel drink is a traditional Caribbean beverage made with the sepals of the Roselle plant, a species of the hibiscus flower. This drink is served over ice and it’s traditionally served during the Christmas Holiday. It’s refreshing, easy to make, and full of flavor.

An orange slice garnishing a glass of Jamaican sorrel drink

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Every Christmas morning deserves a tall glass of cold refreshing sorrel punch. I know, seems backward to drink a tall glass of cold anything during the winter, but this sorrel punch is a traditional drink I grew up drinking. It’s pretty much a must in any Caribbean household.

Sorrel generally involves overnight steeping of fresh or dried sorrel to release the flavors. I usually opt to make this recipe in a pressure cooker to avoid the overnight steep. You can make this recipe either in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop and it’s a great option for a make-ahead holiday drink if you are entertaining.

For more drinks recipes, check out my Homemade Cranberry Lemonade and Slow Cooker Hot Holiday Punch.

How to make this sorrel drink

Instant Pot Method

Add sorrel, ginger, pimento seeds, and water to pressure cooker. Cover and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, then naturally release.

Strain the mixture and discard the solids.

Straining the mixture through a fine mesh sieve

Sweeten with brown sugar.
Allow sorrel to cool and serve over ice. Store in the refrigerator.

Stovetop Method

Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot or kettle. Once boiling, add sorrel, ginger, and pimento seeds. Cover and let steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain the solids.
Season with sugar and serve over ice. Enjoy.

Two glasses of sorrel drink garnished with orange slices

What is sorrel?

Caribbean sorrel is also known as the Roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), which is a species of the hibiscus flower. This sorrel is not the same as the leafy green plant known as sorrel. This sorrel is bright red in color and gives dishes an amazing deep rich red color, perfect for Christmas! It adds a tart and tangy flavor, similar to cranberries or pomegranate. Another popular name for this beautiful flower is “flor de jamaica.”

You can find dried sorrel leaves in Caribbean markets or online.

There are also many well known health benefits of sorrel a.k.a hibiscus. To be honest, I like to prepare and drink this year round, not just for Christmas.

How do you serve it?

This punch is best served ice cold, so once you have made it keep it in the fridge until you are ready to serve. Fill glasses with ice, pour the drink over it and garnish with a fresh orange slice.

Make it spiked

If you prefer some alcohol in your holiday drinks, you can easily spike this sorrel drink. Add in some rum or vodka to the pitcher or into the individual glasses before serving.

Jamaican sorrel drink served in glasses with ice

Recipe Notes and Tips

If you’re making this recipe in your pressure cooker, please take note that it will take your pressure cooker about 20 minutes to rise to pressure.
Use freshly grated ginger rather than pre-grated for the best flavor. Don’t skip on grating the ginger, it makes a difference in the flavor.
Sweeten with brown sugar or dilute with additional water to suit your tastes.

More Easy Drinks Recipes

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4.67 from 3 votes

Jamaican Sorrel Drink

This Jamaican sorrel drink is a herb infused beverage served over ice. Traditionally served during the holidays it's refreshing, easy to make and full of flavor.

Course Drinks

Cuisine Jamaican

Keyword how to make sorrel drink, sorrel and ginger, sorrel drink

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Total Time 40

Servings drinks

Calories 33kcal

Author Tanya

Ingredients

4 Oz dried sorrel about 4 cups
3 Oz ginger grated
1 Tablespoon pimento seeds
10 cups water
Brown sugar to taste

Instructions

Pressure Cooker Method:

Add sorrel, ginger, pimento seeds, and water to pressure cooker. Cover and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, then naturally release. Strain the mixture and discard the solids. Sweeten with brown sugar. Allow sorrel to cool and serve over ice. Store in the refrigerator.

Stovetop Method:

Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot or kettle. Once boiling, add sorrel, ginger, and pimento seeds. Cover and let steep overnight in the refrigerator. Strain the mixture and discard the solids.
Season with sugar and serve over ice. Enjoy.

Suggested Tools

Dried Sorrel

Notes

If you’re making this recipe in your pressure cooker, please take note that it will take your pressure cooker about 20 minutes to rise to pressure.
Use freshly grated ginger rather than pre grated for the best flavor.
Sweeten with brown sugar or dilute with additional water to suit your tastes.

Nutrition

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