Zobo syrup, zobo drink
Chilled Zobo syrup, zobo drink is commonly made in homes and sold on the streets in Nigeria. Zobo is the calyx of the roselle plant (a specie of hibiscus). I
Ingredients
- 1 cup zobo
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Other spices and herbs: root ginger, cloves, pineapple, lemon grass, teabag, cinnamon, cardamom, star anise,pimento berries, lemon and lime rinds or whole, alligator pepper etc. (use only one or two).
- Rinse the zobo thoroughly in a bowl of water, to remove any grit.
- Place it in a small pot, add the water and spice, herb or fruit, bring to a boil. Boil for 10 minutes and take off the heat.
- Leave to steep and cool for about 30 minutes. By which time the spices would have infused their flavour and essence into the liquid.
- Strain with a cheese cloth, a very fine sieve or a piece of chiffon fabric.
- Put the liquid back in a clean pot. Add sugar and lemon juice and boil till all sugar is dissolved. Take off the heat.
- The longer it is boiled, the thicker it will become and it will thicken further when it cools down.
- To serve, simply dilute with water or soda water for a fizzy drink.
Notes
- If it is for drinking, I don't make it too thick because it will be difficult to dissolve, but for pancakes, waffles etc, you need a thicker consistency, as thick as store-bought syrup.
- Be careful not to overcook it because the burnt sugar will give your syrup a bitter taste.
- Some spices are stronger in flavour than others so use accordingly. It is better to use too little than too much. You can put the spice back into the jar of the already made hot syrup to keep infusing.
- When making this syrup, don't put the spice or herb into the pot at the stage of actually turning the zobo water into a syrup, that is when sugar has been added. This might cause the sugar to crystallize, causing the syrup to be grainy.
- Pour into a clean glass jar or any airtight container and store in the refrigerator or in the freezer it will keep for months.
- Rum or vodka can be added as a preservative to extend its shelf life, but not for the children.
