Our sorrel and ginger is one of the first things new guests ask about. It's bright red, tart, and spicy from fresh ginger. In Jamaica, it's also the taste of Christmas.
What sorrel is
Jamaican sorrel isn't the leafy green of the same name. It's a variety of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa). The part used for the drink is the deep red calyx, the fleshy cover around the flower. Dried, it's sold in many places as roselle or flor de Jamaica.
Why Latin America calls it “Jamaica”
If you've ever had agua de Jamaica at a Mexican restaurant, you've had the same flower. Across Mexico and much of Latin America, the hibiscus used for this drink is called flor de Jamaica — literally “Jamaica flower” — and the drink itself is just Jamaica (pronounced ha-MY-ka). The name stuck because the roselle hibiscus became so closely tied to the island of Jamaica, long a major source of the dried flower, that Spanish speakers ended up naming the plant after the place. Same flower, same deep red color; one side sweetens it cold for the heat, the other spices it with ginger for Christmas.
How it becomes a drink
The sorrel is steeped in hot water with plenty of fresh ginger, then strained and sweetened. Many families add pimento berries, cloves, or orange peel. The result is tart like cranberry, with ginger heat at the finish.
Why it's a Christmas drink
In Jamaica, sorrel is harvested around the end of the year, so it became tied to the Christmas season. Families make big batches for guests, often alongside rum-soaked Christmas cake. Some adults add a splash of Jamaican rum or wine to theirs.
Why we serve it every day
For Jamaicans living abroad, a glass of sorrel is a reminder of home. For everyone else, it's a refreshing drink that goes especially well with spicy food. We didn't want to save it for one month.
Our other fresh drinks
- Pineapple and ginger: sweet and sharp, with ginger heat.
- Soursop: creamy, with a flavor somewhere between pineapple, strawberry, and banana. We wrote a whole post about it.
Our drinks are served non-alcoholic.
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