from A Caribbean Christmas Cookbook
A festive fusion of two Caribbean holiday staples—sorrel drink and rum punch. This non-traditional recipe is quick to prepare and delivers a vibrant red hue and complex flavour profile, balancing the tartness of cranberries and sorrel with the warmth of spices and a perfect rum kick.
Ingredients
3–4 cups dried sorrel (hibiscus flowers)
1 cup dried cranberries (use 2-3 cups fresh if available)
8–12 cups water (adjust based on desired concentration)
1 ½ cups granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
1 stick cinnamon
1 star anise pod
1 orange (cut into wedges, juice squeezed in)
1 thick slice fresh ginger
1 cup white rum (or dark spiced rum, or more to taste)
3 dashes Angostura bitters
Orange slices (for garnish)
Directions
Steep ingredients: In a large pot or Dutch oven, combine the sorrel, cranberries, star anise, cinnamon stick, orange wedges (squeeze the juice into the pot first), fresh ginger, and water.
Boil and simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil. Add the sugar and stir well until it dissolves completely. Reduce the heat to a simmer and let it cook gently for 10–15 minutes.
Cool and infuse: Turn off the stove and let the mixture steep for about 2 hours, allowing it to cool down completely and infuse with flavour. The mixture will develop a rich, deep red color.
Strain: Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean jug or punch bowl, pressing on the solids to extract all liquid. You may need to double strain to ensure clarity. Discard the strained solids.
Add rum and bitters: Taste the mixture for sugar and adjust if necessary. Stir in the Angostura bitters and the white rum (or spiced rum) to your liking.
Chill and serve: Chill the rum punch until ready to serve. Serve cold over ice (keep dilution in mind when sweetening) and garnish with fresh orange slices. For an alcohol-free version, simply omit the rum.
Nada’s Tips & Tricks: I like to add a pitcher of cold drinks on the holiday table. At Thanksgiving, we went Mexican; for Christmas, we’ll be going to the Caribbean. Refreshing with a little bit of punch.
Contents and images used with permission by Caribbean Pot. https://caribbeanpot.com/