Zobo, also known as Hibiscus has been cultivated around the world for thousands of years. They belong to the same family as marshmallows known for their moistening and healing qualities. In recent years, a few human clinical trials have found zobo to be beneficial for people with Type 2 Diabetes and mildly high blood pressure. Hibiscus is high in antioxidants and can help reduce excessive or chronic inflammation.
Hibiscus tea is famous in many Caribbean islands like Jamaica but in Nigeria and most parts of West Africa, it is used to make a unique drink known as Zobo. Hibiscus tea tastes fruity, sweet, sour, and astringent. The tart flavor is similar in taste to cranberries and this drink can be consumed both as a hot beverage and as a cold iced drink. Recognized by its vibrant ruby red color, this drink makes a beautiful addition to an afternoon drink party or a complementary beverage to a morning sunrise. See Zobo and Pregnancy
How to Make Zobo Drink
Zobo is one of the popular Nigerian drinks, it is easy to make and can be made in under 30 minutes. Serve chilled with your favorite snack. The standard zobo drink can be made with just three ingredients – the zobo leaves, choice of flavor, and ginger. However zobo petals have a somewhat sugary taste, most people chose to add a few cubes of sugar or just used joccy’s pineapple flavor which already contains the needed quantity of sweetener and flavor. These are what you need to make zobo drink:
To make 4-5 liters of zobo you need;
- 5-6 cups of dried zobo leaves.
- Ginger (2-3 fingers).
- 2 sachets of Joccy’s Pineapple flavor.
- 4-5 litres of water.
- Preparation time: 30mins.
- Serving: 8 to 12 persons.
Step 1: Hand-pick every unwanted substance from the zobo leaves and start cooking with about 3 liters of water. If you want to wash the zobo leaves before cooking, be careful so you don’t wash away the original nutrient, don’t soak before washing, just pour water, wash and transfer into the cooking pot.
Step 2: Cook to boil before adding the ginger, you can pound them to a pulp or grind them with a kitchen blender. Cook for another ten to fifteen minutes before you taste the zobo, it may taste sour.
Step 3: Allow the mixture to cool for a while, filter, and add the joccy pineapple flavor that already contains sugar. You don’t want it too sweet. So add a teaspoon and observe and refrigerate.
To make zobo drink with banana, place bananas and yogurt in a food processor and blend until smooth. Divide into two bowls. Pour some of the zobo drink into the pulp and mix. Divide into two bowls too and mix one bowl of banana-yogurt blend with one of the pulp. READ: Is Banana Good For Ulcer?
How to make zobo with dates (dabino), separate the fruit from the seed, and pound, adding as little amount of water if the fruits are dry. Soak your semi-dry puree or date powder in warm water and allow to set overnight. Blend the mixture and your zobo before extracting your sweetened juice using a fine sieve. You can add lemon and or flavor to your taste
To make a zobo drink with watermelon, simply separate the fruit from the seed, place the watermelon into the blender and add cool unsweetened zobo drink before blending until smooth. ALSO SEE: Is Water Melon Good For Ulcer Patients
Why You should always add Ginger to your Zobo
Ginger which is one of the optional ingredients for this popular drink is known to improve health conditions. As an ancient spice with powerful anti-inflammatory properties, the health benefits of ginger include its ability to help with arthritis and osteoarthritis, relieve nausea and pain, prevent cancer, improve respiratory conditions, and reduce flatulence. It also helps boost bone health, strengthen the immune system, and increase appetite. READ: Health Benefits and Side Effects of Golden Melon (Cucumis melo)
