At a glance
- Zobo is an iced infusion of dried hibiscus flowers, flavored with ginger and pineapple
- Origin: northern Nigeria, among the Hausa people
- Key ingredients: dried hibiscus, ginger, pineapple, cloves, cinnamon
- A drink served at weddings, at christening ceremonies and during hot weather
Origins and cultural history of zobo
Zobo is an iced infusion of dried hibiscus flowers (Hibiscus sabdariffa), whose preparation goes back to the Hausa people of northern Nigeria: the word “zobo” in fact comes from Hausa, which uses it to name the plant. In the north of the country, the drink is also called “zoborodo”. It spread across Nigeria, then to neighboring Ghana, where it is found under the name sobolo.
Zobo is served at wedding ceremonies, christenings and festival periods, as well as on hot afternoons. This hibiscus drink is the West African cousin of Jamaican sorrel, carried to the Caribbean along the routes of the Atlantic slave trade.
What are the essential ingredients of zobo
The zobo recipe relies on dried hibiscus flowers found in African and Caribbean grocery stores, including NKOSI, infused with spices and pineapple.
- dried hibiscus flowers
- fresh ginger
- pineapple
- cloves
- cinnamon stick
- cane sugar
Nutritional benefits of zobo
Zobo contains fresh ginger, which provides about 320 mg of potassium and 26 mg of magnesium per 100 g, and pineapple, whose raw flesh provides about 46 mg of vitamin C and 140 mg of potassium per 100 g, according to the Ciqual composition table from Anses.
Frequently asked questions about zobo
What is the difference between zobo and bissap?
Both zobo and bissap are made with dried hibiscus flowers. Senegalese bissap is most often limited to hibiscus, water and sugar, sometimes flavored with mint, while Nigerian zobo always adds ginger, spices and pineapple.
How long does zobo keep?
Zobo keeps for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator, in a closed bottle or carafe. It is always served very cold, with ice cubes.
Where to find zobo ingredients in France?
NKOSI sells the dried hibiscus flowers, cloves and cinnamon stick used in this recipe on nkosiagro.com and ships them from the Paris area within 24 to 72 working hours, to mainland France (2 to 3 working days) and to ten European countries. The minimum order is 39 €: in France, delivery to a pickup point is then free, and home delivery is free from 59 €.
