Many years ago, I spent a year travelling through Africa overland starting in Morocco and ending in Zimbabwe. One of the most remarkable aspects of Africa was the broad variety of local drinks created, brewed, cooked and mixed.
In a number of small towns in Nigeria, a refreshing drink called zobo was offered to visitors or available in the market. The rich red beverage is created by adding a generous handful of hibiscus buds and sugar to boiling water (making it safe to drink!!) and brewing for around 10 or 15 minutes. Left to cool, pineapple juice and sometimes ginger are added to make for a refreshing cool drink that tastes of a mix of a tart herbal tea and tangy juice. While in Nigeria, I had to be extremely cautious that cold water or ice had never been added, it tastes best chilled and is fairly easy to recreate at home.
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At the start of every month, Travel Wonders highlights a characteristic drink experienced on his travel. Previous non-alcoholic Drinks Around the World include Indian Masala chai, Mint Tea from Morocco, Vietnamese slow-drip coffee, Coca Tea from Peru and Austria's herby Almdudler.
Photo credit: Drink
This is a fun series. I can't drink alcohol for medical reasons, and am always on the lookout for local non-alcoholic popular beverages.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful! And looks absolutely refreshing. Maybe I can make something similar at home.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea way to tell the story of your travels. I'd love to try the version of this drink with pineapple and ginger.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty drink. And to think it's made with a flower. Love this series, Mark.
ReplyDeleteHow refreshing and colorful. A super drink to make in the summer!
ReplyDeleteThat does look good - great series, I learned about so many drinks I hadn't known before through it.
ReplyDeleteIn Mexico they have a similar drink made from the hibiscus flower. They call it Jugo de Jamaica - Jamaica juice. And it is absolutely delicious! Made my mouth water just thinking about it as I read your description of the African version.
ReplyDelete@vera: I love to sample the drinks and food from different places I go. I only wish I'd taken photos of these things when I tried them. I have tried to recreate some at home (though not zobo). It is like a herbal tea.
ReplyDelete@angela: You should be able to make this at home if you can get hold of hibiscus flowers.
@wanderluster: Thank you.
@donna: Thank you. The colour makes it look more attractive.
@sherry: Should be easy to make at home, though I've never tried.
ReplyDelete@anil: Education is one of the great aspects of travel. I love to see the different foods and drinks that people have around the world (and the tastes that they enjoy).
@barbara: I love the idea of Jamaica Juice and a good vibrant colour for the Caribbean.
Drinks in Nigeria are really unique, I completely agree with you here. Plus their decorations make it more unique. I have never tasted these drinks any where in the world. That their specialty.
ReplyDelete@accra flights: Great to get a comment from west Africa. Nigeria did have some interesting drinks as does all of west Africa. Keep commenting...
ReplyDeleteI love fruit teas and fruity flavours, so I think I'd enjoy this drink
ReplyDelete@heather: It is remarkably refreshing and tasty and suits the hot weather of Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteI've been drinking hibiscus tea with ginger for years, and I never had any idea that I was drinking a Nigerian national drink. I'll try to add some pineapple juice next time and see how it tastes.
ReplyDelete@denver flyer: I'd love to know your impression of zobo. There are variations to this drink in neighbouring African countries.
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