Skip to content
RecipeCrave
nigeriandrinkveganvegetariangluten free

Zobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)

4.8(71 reviews)

Tart, ruby-red drink steeped from dried hibiscus petals with ginger, pineapple, and clove. vitamin C–rich, vegan, refreshing, and uniquely West African.

Total time:
35 min
Servings:
8
Per serving:
80 kcal
Cost per serving:
$0.40
Difficulty:
easy
Zobo (Nigerian Hibiscus Drink)

Step-by-step

  1. Rinse hibiscus petals to remove dust.

  2. Combine petals, water, ginger, pineapple, cloves, and cinnamon in a pot. Bring to a boil.

  3. Reduce heat. Simmer 20 minutes.

    20 min timer

  4. Strain into a large pitcher.

  5. Stir in sugar and lime juice while warm.

  6. Chill at least 2 hours. Serve over ice.

Cook's tip

Add cucumber slices to the pitcher for an extra-cooling note. Hibiscus stains. protect your countertops.

Storage

Refrigerate 5 days.

Freezer: Freeze in ice cube trays for fancy ice.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
80
Protein
0g
Carbs
20g
Fat
0g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
18g
Sat Fat
0g
Sodium
10mg

Estimates based on USDA FoodData Central. See our nutrition disclaimer.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I buy hibiscus petals?

African and Mexican grocers (sold as flor de jamaica). Bulk health food sections also carry it.

Sugar-free?

Sweeten with stevia or monk fruit. Or skip sweetener. it is naturally pleasantly tart.

Reviews

4.8(71 reviews)

Tola O.

3 days ago

Made this for Sunday lunch — the smoky bottom turned out perfect. Family demolished the pot in twenty minutes.

✓ Would make again

Marcus B.

1 week ago

First time cooking this and the timing notes saved me. Did not lift the lid once. The crust at the bottom was the best part.

✓ Would make again

Aisha K.

2 weeks ago

Loved it but added an extra scotch bonnet — we like it spicy. Recipe scales well, made a double batch.

✓ Would make again

Reviews shown are illustrative pre-launch. Real user reviews appear here as the community grows.

You might also like

Chapman (Nigerian Cocktail)vegan

Chapman (Nigerian Cocktail)

4.8 (56)

Lagos's favorite mocktail. bittersweet, citrusy, deeply red. Blackcurrant cordial, Fanta, Sprite, lime, bitters. Refreshing as a Saturday afternoon in Ikoyi.

Time
5 min
Servings
1 servings
Calories
180 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.40/serving
Nigerian Jollof Ricevegan

Nigerian Jollof Rice

4.9 (142)

Smoky, deeply flavored one-pot rice with tomato, scotch bonnet, and bay. the dish that starts arguments in every African household, here in its simplest weeknight form.

Time
55 min
Servings
6 servings
Calories
380 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.45/serving
Akara (Nigerian Bean Fritters)vegan

Akara (Nigerian Bean Fritters)

4.7 (39)

Crispy outside, fluffy inside. Lagos street-corner breakfast made from peeled black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions, fried golden. Eat with hot pap or bread.

Time
45 min
Servings
6 servings
Calories
240 kcal
Cost per serving
$0.90/serving
Moin Moin (Steamed Bean Pudding)vegetarian

Moin Moin (Steamed Bean Pudding)

4.7 (41)

Savory steamed pudding from blended black-eyed peas, peppers, and onions. a Nigerian breakfast staple high in plant protein and full of flavor.

Time
1 hr 30 min
Servings
6 servings
Calories
290 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.20/serving
Classic Caipirinhavegan

Classic Caipirinha

4.7 (48)

Brazil's national cocktail. lime, sugar, and cachaça muddled into the freshest, brightest drink in the western hemisphere.

Time
3 min
Servings
1 servings
Calories
180 kcal
Cost per serving
$1.80/serving
Nigerian Egusi Soupgluten free

Nigerian Egusi Soup

4.9 (89)

Rich melon-seed stew with leafy greens, smoked fish, and palm oil. the Sunday afternoon soup that anchors a Nigerian table. Serve with pounded yam or fufu.

Time
1 hr 10 min
Servings
6 servings
Calories
520 kcal
Cost per serving
$4.20/serving