Sorrel Drink
This homemade sorrel drink is a fragrant, deeply refreshing Jamaican and Caribbean Christmas classic made by steeping dried sorrel with warming spices, fresh herbs, and ginger. After a long, slow steep, the mixture is strained and sweetened with sugar and lemon for a bright, tart finish. Serve it chilled for a crisp, ruby-red drink that works beautifully for holidays, celebrations, or big-batch entertaining.
Tasty Team
Total Time
4 hr 5 min
4 hr 5 min
Prep Time
5 minutes
5 min
Cook Time
4 hr
4 hr
Total Time
4 hr 5 min
4 hr 5 min
Prep Time
5 minutes
5 min
Cook Time
4 hr
4 hr
Ingredients
for 16 servings
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 whole nutmeg, quartered
- 4 oz fresh ginger, peeled and smashed
- 1 gal water, divided
- 8 oz dried sorrel, rinsed
- 2 thyme sprigs
- 2 rosemary sprigs
- 2 culantro leaves
- 2 Mint sprigs, leaves picked
- 2 sage sprigs, leaves picked
- 1 cup granulated sugar, or to taste
- Juice of 1 lemon
- white rum, to taste (optional for a 21+ adult’s-only drink)
Nutrition Info
- Calories 46
- Fat 0g
- Carbs 11g
- Fiber 1g
- Sugar 8g
- Protein 0g
Estimated values based on one serving size.
Preparation
- Place the allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and 14 cups of the water in a large pot. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the sorrel, thyme, rosemary, culantro, mint, and sage. Give it a light stir, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Let the sorrel mixture cool completely at room temperature, at least 4 hours or up to 12 hours.
- Strain the cooled mixture into a large (1–1½-gallon) pitcher. Discard the solids.
- Stir the sugar and lemon juice into the drink mixture in the pitcher. If using, stir in white rum to taste. Add more of the remaining 2 cups water as desired.
- Serve chilled or over ice.
- Enjoy!
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