Sugar-Free Nigerian Zobo Drink Recipe

African hibiscus tea is calling.

Zobo drink is a popular Nigerian drink that is also very well-known in other African countries. Though we fondly call this drink, Zobo, the full name native is zoborodo.  In Ghana, Gambia, and Senegal, it is known as sobolo or bissap juice. In the Caribbean, many refer to it as a sorrel drink, and others generally call it hibiscus drink or hibiscus tea. Zobo drink is typically made by boiling dry Zobo leaves or hibiscus petals. This drink has a unique flavor, and it is not naturally sweet, so you have to sweeten it. This is why a lot of people sweeten it with sugar; I have in the past seen some Zobo recipes that call for up to 3 – 5 cups of sugar! Alarming you may say, anyways, the diversity in recipe follows closely with the variety of the people that drink it; in other words, the hibiscus tea recipe differs from coast to coast amongst people who enjoy it.

Growing up in Nigeria, then, whenever we make Zobo, we would also add some “artificial flavors” to it. Zobo drink is fantastic for the body; there is no need to make this healthy food unhealthy by adding refined sugars, sweeteners, and other “flavors.” Lol, my mother would always joke that Nigerians love their zobo drink just as they love their rice! Somethings never change!

My goal today is to share with you an extraordinary Zobo recipe that is sugar-free, artificial flavor-free, and full of all the things your body needs.

Want to make this simple drink classic? Add fresh fruits for refreshing flavors.

Intensify the flavor of the strawberry or any fruit by cutting them real tiny. Then pour your healthy drink on top.

Benefits of Zobo drink (African Hibiscus Tea)

First of all, let’s go ahead and check out the benefits of this heart-healthy goodness.

• It can help you reduce blood pressure: Managing blood pressure is a pain in the neck with various medications that have harmful side-effects. I am NOT saying that you quit your prescription, but you can also incorporate essential nutrition that helps your situation.
• Hibiscus tea is excellent for managing blood sugar. This helps you control blood sugar with ease.
• Due to the soothing effect of the hibiscus plant, this drink is linked to effectively reducing menstrual cramps. Feel free to enjoy it, especially during that time of the month.
• According to research, hibiscus can lift a bad mood, as well as help with depressive symptoms.
• How wonderful would it be also to nourish your body while at the same time trying to lose weight? This can support weight loss, and heart health, all at the same time. For those mornings, you do not feel like eating a significant breakfast, sip on a 16 oz. Jar of sorrel drink!
• Similarly, hibiscus leaves are liver-friendly. If you know that your liver needs improvement, then do not hesitate to other these leaves from amazon, and make it!

[bctt tweet=”In general, hibiscus leaves have tons of nutritional value and will do your body right. As always, I encourage you to eat more of the food that will heal, and prolong your life.” username=”NkechiAjaeroh”] This post is not enough to teach all the great things that hibiscus leave can do, read more here.

Making African Hibiscus tea sugar-free.

Raise your hands if you have had a Zobo drink before? Well, if your hand is up, then you are in for a ride. You are about to learn some tricks to improve your health; it’s called – sugar-free Zobo!

Dry Zobo leaves aka African hibiscus tea leaves, or sorrel leaves.

Here are goes the ingredients.

For naturally sweetening the Zobo, I have found a combination of pineapple, apples, and orange to work. You can also use honey, or, original maple syrup.

Ensure to have a big deep bowl to capture the juice while you strain it.

Just the color alone is everything!

Let’s go ahead and make this deliciousness!

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I am sure you will enjoy my minty carrots/watermelon drink as well. And if you are looking to eat more salads, then my FREE (5) salad recipe bundle, which are super easy to make, can help. Get the recipes here.

Meanwhile, in October 2019, I started on Instagram (finally)! LOL, I did put that off forever, well I am there now, and I will love for us to connect!

If your friends and family are like mine, then I know they would appreciate some healthy treats, so please feel free to share this recipe with them. Thanks in advance for sharing this post!

With love,

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