Occasionally, the most pleasing, sweetest and pleasant things usually come from the most simplest places and this for me, it comes from a chilled bottle of my homemade Zobo for any weather.
In my country Nigeria while growing up, Zobo was not just any drink. It was symbolic in a way that it is used during celebrations, it is medicinal and used for togetherness. Flash back to those days, I could vividly remember the joy and excitement on my face anything I see my mum in the kitchen conscientiously mixing the rich-red dried hibiscus petals and the whole house filled with its spicy and fruity aroma. Even with the look of things in our present world and with all various types of soda drinks circulating the market, no soda drink can replace the natural taste of the shooting and refreshing taste that chilled homemade Zobo have.
To make this post more interesting and for those who might want to try our the special homemade Zobo drink, check my recipe below — it is very stressfree, refreshing, nutritional and embedded with love.
What you need:
1½ to 2 cups of neat and dried hibiscus 🌺 petals{zobo-leaves}A clean big pot1 liter of clean waterA medium diced ginger or 1 tablespoon grated ginger (to give that spicy taste) though it might be optional 1 medium size fresh pineapple Add sugar or honey according to your tasteAdd cloves, dates, fresh orange (all these are optional but it adds to the richness of your Zobo drink)
How I usually prepare it:
I firstly rinse the hibiscus 🌺 petals thoroughly to remove any form of dirt or dust. Do no soak to avoid all the nutrients being washed away.
Into my clean pot, I poured the already washed Zobo leaves, add the 1 liter of water or any quantity of water I need. I add the ginger, cloves, orange, dates and allow it to boil gentle until it gives that pure wine colour and aromatic smell.
After boiling, I allow it to cool down then I seave the liquid into another clean bowl to separate it from the shaft.
Then I add my preferred sweetener—honey or sugar until I get that requirement taste. And you can also add some external—artificial sweeteners and flavours.
Pour the liquid (Zobo) into a bottle and refrigerate it or sever fresh with ice inside your glass cup to give that refreshing and pleasing taste.
For me, Zobo is not just a random drinks, it brings memories and it is a reminder that some of the best foods or drinks are homemade, made with love, diligence, care and the touch of cultural and traditional value. To me, Zobo drink is natural, has its health impact and it can be enjoyed by anyone at anytime as it goes smoothly with any kind of food. Another thing is that it's very affordable and can be used as entertaining purposes during birthdays, weddings, picnics, or any celebration. This is why I love it.
In a world full of coarse and hectic days, a simple homemade Zobo drink can help you back to peace with its refreshing taste.
In a world full of complexities, a simple homemade drink like Zobo feels like a return to peace, family, and the purest joys of life.
Have you ever taste Zobo before? And what do you think about it?
Image by me
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