Christmas time in most Caribbean households means that there will be sorrel on the table. Many of our readers have never heard of sorrel and you have probably asked yourself what is it?
What is it?
Sorrel, also known as roselle or hibiscus, is grown throughout the Caribbean islands.
Sorrel comes from the Roselle plant. Just like any other plant, the roselle plant is green and it grows a red flower which is known as sorrel.
Although it isn’t really a flower, it is known in some countries as flor de Jamaica (Jamaican flower). It has a vibrant red color and doesn’t have a strong distinct odor.
Unlike what most West Indians think, sorrel isn’t just grown in the Caribbean. It is grown in many countries throughout the world such as Australia, countries in Africa, countries in Latin America and more.
How to use it?
Usually, it is used to make sorrel drink which is usually enjoyed during the Christmas holidays. However there are many more things you can do with it.
You can enjoy it as a tea, use it to make a cake, use it to make a glaze, jam, for sauces or for syrups.
Here are some of the many ways we used it:
Sorrel Drink, Sorrel Cake, Sorrel Tea
Where to buy it?
If you live in the Caribbean, getting your hands on fresh sorrel is very easy for you to get.
Some grocery stores sell fresh sorrel, especially if the area has a huge West Indian population.
Unfortunately, there are some supermarkets that don’t carry fresh sorrel but they carry dried sorrel which is still just as good as the fresh one.
And if you really cannot find fresh nor dried sorrel in your local supermarket, you can either find it in an African/Caribbean or Latin American grocery store. If those options are not available to you, then thanks to Amazon you can always order the dried sorrel online.
