Jamaican Christmas Sorrel is a popular and festive drink enjoyed during the holiday season:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dried sorrel petals
- 10 cups water
- 1 cup granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 piece of fresh ginger (about 2 inches), peeled and grated
- 1 orange peel (optional)
- 1 cup rum (optional)
- Ice cubes (for serving)
- Orange slices and fresh mint leaves (for garnish)
Instructions:
- In a large pot, bring the water to a boil.
- Add the dried sorrel petals, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, grated ginger, and orange peel (if using) to the boiling water. Stir well.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for about 20 minutes. This will allow the flavors to infuse into the liquid.
- After 20 minutes, remove the pot from the heat and let the mixture cool.
- Once cooled, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a pitcher or large bowl. Press the sorrel petals to extract all the liquid and discard the solids.
- Stir in the granulated sugar until it dissolves completely. You can adjust the amount of sugar according to your preference for sweetness.
- If desired, add the rum to the sorrel mixture and stir well. The addition of rum is optional but traditional in Jamaican Christmas Sorrel.
- Cover the pitcher or bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate the sorrel mixture for at least 4 hours, or overnight if possible. Chilling allows the flavors to further develop.
- To serve, fill glasses with ice cubes and pour the chilled sorrel mixture over the ice.
- Garnish each glass with a slice of orange and a fresh mint leaf for an extra touch of freshness and color.
- Stir the sorrel drink before sipping, as the ingredients may settle at the bottom.
Jamaican Christmas Sorrel is typically served chilled and enjoyed during the holiday season. It’s a refreshing and flavorful drink that can be enjoyed by itself or alongside traditional Jamaican Christmas dishes.