The deep red hibiscus drink the Caribbean calls sorrel, brewed in small batches in Yorkshire with real ginger and cloves. No steeping for days, no added sugar, no alcohol. Just chill and pour.
Sorrel, zobo, sobolo and bissap are all the same much-loved drink, brewed from the dried red flowers of the roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa). In the Caribbean the flower itself is called sorrel, which is why the drink shares the name. It has nothing to do with the leafy green herb sold as sorrel in supermarkets.
Cofa is a West African style zobo, so the recipe is a little different from a traditional Jamaican sorrel. But the heart of it is the same: tart, floral hibiscus warmed with ginger and cloves. Read more about what zobo is and where it comes from.
In Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and across the Caribbean, there is no Christmas table without a jug of sorrel. Making it at home means boiling the flowers with ginger and spice, steeping it overnight or longer, straining it and sweetening it, usually with a lot of sugar.
Cofa does that work for you. Every bottle is brewed from real dried hibiscus with pineapple, apple, ginger, cloves and dates, with no added sugar and nothing artificial. Chill it, pour it over ice with a slice of orange, and it is ready for the whole family, children included, because it is completely alcohol free.
Want the grown-up version? Traditional Christmas sorrel often gets a splash of rum. Try our rum and zobo cocktail, or our zobo sangria for a festive jug. Looking for a present? The Cofa gift box comes with a recipe card and a handwritten note.
The same: real dried hibiscus, real ginger, cloves, that deep ruby colour and the tart, warming flavour.
The difference: no added sugar (the sweetness comes from fruit and dates), no alcohol, and no hours of boiling and straining. It is also naturally vegan, gluten free and caffeine free.
From 6 bottle packs to full cases and gift boxes, all brewed from the same authentic recipe.
Sorrel drink is a deep red Caribbean drink brewed from the dried flowers (calyces) of the roselle plant, Hibiscus sabdariffa, usually with ginger and cloves. It is a Christmas tradition in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and across the Caribbean. It is not made from the leafy green herb also called sorrel.
Yes, they come from the same flower. The roselle hibiscus drink is called sorrel in the Caribbean, zobo in Nigeria, sobolo in Ghana and bissap in Senegal. Recipes differ by region, but the base is the same: dried hibiscus brewed with spice. Cofa is a West African style zobo made with hibiscus, ginger and cloves, so it will taste familiar to sorrel lovers.
You can buy Cofa ready to drink sorrel (zobo) online at cofaltd.co.uk/shop with delivery across the UK, or find it in 75+ independent shops, cafes and restaurants. Use our store locator to find your nearest stockist.
No. Homemade sorrel is often made with a lot of sugar. Cofa has no added or refined sugar, no concentrate and no sweeteners. Its light sweetness comes only from real pineapple, apple and dates.
No. Cofa is completely alcohol free, so the whole family can enjoy it. Traditional Christmas sorrel is sometimes mixed with rum or wine. If you want that for adults, add a splash of rum to a glass of Cofa over ice.
Serve it well chilled over ice with a slice of orange or lime. For a festive jug, add orange slices and a cinnamon stick. It goes well with Christmas cake, black cake and spiced or grilled food.
A 6 bottle pack is £14.99, a 12 bottle mixed case is £27.99 and a 30 bottle case is £64.99. Our gift box (6 bottles, gift box, recipe card and handwritten note) is £19.99, which makes a thoughtful Christmas present.
Yes. Cofa is 100% plant based and vegan, and it is naturally gluten free and caffeine free. Ingredients: hibiscus, pineapple, apple, ginger, cloves and dates.
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