DIY Recipes: How to make a healthy zobo drink

Zobo is naturally healthy, but some versions out there are swimming in too much sugar, artificial flavours, or questionable colourings.

And that defeats the whole purpose. 

Making your own healthy zobo drink at home is better because you can control the ingredients, and it's also easy to prepare.

What is Zobo, anyway?

Zobo is a popular Nigerian drink made from dried hibiscus petals called “zobo leaves” in local markets. The petals are boiled and flavoured with ingredients like ginger, cloves, pineapple, and sometimes orange or lemon.

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Hibiscus is rich in vitamin C, antioxidants, and minerals, which makes zobo not just tasty, but also great for:

• Lowering blood pressure

• Fighting inflammation

• Boosting immunity

• Supporting digestion

Now imagine all those benefits, minus the mountain of sugar. That’s the goal here.

Ingredients (for a healthy version)

• Dried zobo leaves (rinsed thoroughly)

• Pineapple (peeled and chopped)

• Cloves (optional but highly recommended)

• Fresh ginger (peeled and chopped)

• Water

Optional add-ins: Orange or lemon juice, honey or dates, if you want mild sweetness. Cucumber, mint, or watermelon, if you’re feeling experimental.

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How to prepare healthy zobo

1. Rinse your zobo leaves well: They’re dried and often dusty, so give them a good rinse under running water until the water is almost clear.

2. Boil with water, pineapple, ginger & cloves: In a large pot, combine your zobo leaves, chopped pineapple, ginger, and cloves with 6 cups of water. Bring to a boil and let it simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Let it cool completely: Once done, remove from the heat and allow it to cool down. The flavours intensify as it cools.

4. Strain it: Use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth to strain the drink into a clean bowl. Press down on the solids to squeeze out all that flavour.

5. Add extras: Now’s the time to stir in fresh lemon or orange juice, or a touch of honey if you like it sweeter, but keep it natural. No artificial colours, no processed sugar.

6. Chill and serve: Pour into bottles or jugs and refrigerate. Serve chilled, and garnish with slices of lemon or mint if you want to look extra fancy.

Pro tips 

• Avoid adding artificial flavours that turn a healthy drink into sugar water.

• Use honey or dates instead of white sugar if you must sweeten it.

• Store in the fridge and consume within 3–4 days to keep it fresh and safe.

• You can even freeze it in ice cube trays to blend into smoothies!

So the next time you're craving something cold and refreshing, skip the soda and make yourself a bottle of healthy zobo. It's homemade and budget-friendly.

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