Zobo Sangria

Classic sangria is already a wonderful thing - fruit-steeped wine with a backbone of brandy, poured generously over ice. But swap half the liquid for Cofa Juice Original and something remarkable happens. The deep tartness of the hibiscus cuts through the wine beautifully, the spices - cinnamon and star anise - echo the warmth that hibiscus naturally carries, and the citrus fruit ties everything together into a sangria that feels both familiar and distinctly West African. Make it the night before, refrigerate it, and it will be better for the wait. The ultimate sharing jug for summer gatherings.

Ingredients

• 500ml Cofa Juice Original
• 250ml red wine (a fruity, medium-bodied wine works best - Merlot or Garnacha)
• 50ml brandy
• 1 orange, sliced into rounds
• 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
• 1 apple, cored and diced (any variety)
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• Ice cubes, to serve

Method

1. Prepare the fruit: slice the orange and lemon into thin rounds, removing any pips. Core the apple and dice it into roughly 1cm chunks - you want pieces large enough to scoop out and eat alongside the drink.
2. Pour the Cofa Juice Original, red wine, and brandy into a large jug or serving bowl. Stir briefly to combine the liquids.
3. Add all the prepared fruit - the orange rounds, lemon rounds, and diced apple - to the jug. Push the citrus slices down so they're submerged in the liquid.
4. Add the cinnamon stick and star anise. Give everything a gentle stir to ensure the spices are submerged and in contact with the liquid.
5. Cover the jug with cling film or a lid and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Overnight gives significantly better results - the fruit softens, the spices deepen, and the hibiscus weaves into the wine to create something genuinely complex and delicious.
6. When ready to serve, fill individual glasses generously with ice. Ladle or pour the sangria over the ice, ensuring each glass receives some of the macerated fruit alongside the liquid. Remove the cinnamon stick and star anise from the jug before ladling if you prefer.

Tips

Try It With

This recipe uses Cofa Juice Original - our smooth, authentic West African hibiscus drink with no added sugar. A 500ml bottle is exactly what you need for a full jug of sangria. Stock up in our shop ready for summer.