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Nigerian · West African

Zobo (Nigerian hibiscus drink)

Vegetarian

Nigeria's deep-red hibiscus drink, simmered with pineapple, fresh ginger and cloves and served ice-cold. Fruity, tart and gently spiced.

Zobo (Nigerian hibiscus drink) is a Nigerian cold drink, ready in about 3 hours and made with dried hibiscus flowers, pineapple and fresh ginger. It serves 8 and is rated easy to cook.

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Prep
10 min
Cook
20 min
Rest
2 h 30 min
Total
3 h
Serves
8
Level
Easy
Calories
46

Ingredients

8 glasses

Equipment

Method

  1. Step 1

    Rinse the hibiscus (opens in a new tab) in a sieve to remove dust. Wash the pineapple (opens in a new tab) peel well.

    Liquid being strained through a sieve
    How it looks · Photo: Katerina Holmes on Pexels

  2. Step 2

    Put the hibiscus (opens in a new tab), pineapple (opens in a new tab), ginger, cloves (opens in a new tab) and water in a large pot, bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes.

  3. Step 3

    Take off the heat and leave to steep for 30 minutes, until the liquid is a deep, opaque ruby red.

    • 1 min

  4. Step 4

    Strain through a fine sieve, pressing on the solids, and stir in the sugar (opens in a new tab) while warm. Cool, then chill for at least 2 hours. Serve over ice.

About this dish

Origin
Nigeria · Well documentedThe Hausa name zobo is used across Nigeria; related hibiscus drinks are made throughout West Africa (bissap in Senegal) and beyond.Also popular in GhanaMore food from Nigeria
Dish
Snack · Lunch · Cold drinks
Cooking method
Simmered, Boiled
Taste
tangy, fruity, spicy (chilli heat), refreshing
Diet
Vegan · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · No nut ingredients · Low-carb
All labelsVegan · Plant-based · Vegetarian (lacto-ovo) · Eggetarian · Lacto-vegetarian · Ovo-vegetarian · Pescatarian · Flexitarian-friendly · No gluten ingredients · Dairy-free · Egg-free · No nut ingredients · Alcohol-free · Pork-free · Beef-free · Low-carb · Low-fat · Low-sodium · DASH-style
Worked out from the ingredients. How labels work
Good for
Budget-friendly · Make-ahead · Street food · Festive & celebration
Cook more with
Dried hibiscus flowers · Pineapple · Fresh ginger · Cloves · Sugar
Techniques
Boiling · Simmering

Allergens

None of the 14 major allergens appear in the listed ingredients.

Based on typical versions of these ingredients and not verified allergen-free. Brands differ and cross-contact happens, so always check labels. For severe allergies, follow your clinician’s advice.

Nutrition

46 kcal per serving

Estimated

1 serving ≈ 274 g · recipe makes 8

Where the energy comes from

  • Protein 1%
  • Carbohydrate 97%
  • Fat 2%
Nutrition per serving and per 100 g
NutrientPer servingPer 100 g*
Energy46 kcal17 kcal
Protein0.1 g0 g
Carbohydrate11.9 g4.3 g
Net carbohydrate11.7 g4.3 g
Sugars10.7 g3.9 g
Added sugars10 g3.6 g
Fibre0.2 g0.1 g
Fat0.1 g0 g
Saturated fat0 g0 g
Trans fat0 g0 g
Cholesterol0 mg0 mg
Sodium6 mg2 mg
Salt equivalent0 g0 g
Vitamins & minerals per serving
Potassium
25 mg
Calcium
40 mg
Iron
0.1 mg
Magnesium
10 mg
Vitamin A (RAE)
1 µg
Vitamin C
4 mg
Vitamin D
0 µg
Vitamin B12
0 µg
Folate (DFE)
1 µg

How these numbers were made

  • Calculated from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy) per-100 g values and the listed quantities.
  • *Per 100 g of combined raw ingredients; the cooked dish may weigh more or less.
  • Optional ingredients are not included: ice.
  • Dried hibiscus flowers: Raw roselle (FDC 168170) used as a stand-in; dried calyces are more concentrated, but in drinks they are steeped and strained so little is consumed.
  • “—” means the value isn’t known for enough of the ingredients; it is never zero by default.
  • Values are estimates for guidance, not for medical dosing. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. fdc.nal.usda.gov.

Good to know

Tips

  • Stir in a little fresh orange or pineapple juice after chilling for a fruitier zobo.

Common mistakes

  • Simmering for too long, which can make the drink taste stewed and astringent.

Food safety

  • Zobo spoils fast at warm temperatures: chill promptly in clean bottles and discard if it fizzes or smells sour.

Storage

  • Keeps 3–4 days in the fridge; it ferments quickly if left out.

Variations

  • Bissap (Senegal): Senegal's version, often with mint and orange blossom water.

Original editorial recipe · FriendsPantry editorial · Not yet independently reviewed · Added · Updated

Recipe DNA

How this dish is built

Customise in Sip & Blend

Grouped by each ingredient’s role in the dish. Each band’s width is its share of the dish by weight. Choose a component to see what it does.

What the dish is built around

Main ingredient

Used in steps 1, 2

Less sweet, dairy-free, caffeine-free or for more people — the original stays as it is.

Customise in Sip & Blend

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Reviews come from signed-in cooks and appear after a moderator checks them. We never show made-up ratings.

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