Sorrel (Hibiscus) Hot Toddy

Is there anything better than curling up with a warm cup of goodness that is a hot toddy? The origin of a hot toddy is a little murky and as far as rules go for the recipe - well there aren’t any.

The basic formula of one includes hot water, adding a tea bag is also an option, a spirit of choice, a sweetener of choice, a citrus of choice and a spice of choice. There’s lots of room for creativity. This lovely hot drink packs tons of vitamin C and is hot and soothing, the spirit knocks you out so really it’s the more natural alternative to Neo Citran or Nyquil if you’re feeling a little stuffy or if you have a full blown cold.

I made this variation with Caribbean sorrel/roselle (a plant/flower of the hibiscus family) made from the sepals (flower petals). I used fresh because it’s still in season here but there is dried sorrel available here and in many grocery stores in North America in the ethnic section available all year around. Sorrel is very tart in flavour and very high in vitamin C and other nutrients giving you more excuses to drink a hot toddy, if you need them.

The colour of sorrel is exquisite. It’s bright and almost fluorescent. I absolute love making things with it. Jams and jellies are fabulous made of sorrel. If you’re interested check out my recipe for it here on the blog. I saw a hibiscus tart recently that I would love to try with it too. So many recipes to try and so little time! Steeping the petals with the aromatics really is the start of making any kind of sorrel drink or syrup. It infuses it with warm flavours making the end result of the hot toddy even cosier.

I chose honey as the sweetener but you can use brown sugar, agave, maple syrup or any other sweetener. It will definitely need it though because of the tartness of the sorrel. I used just enough to cut that tartness and it was perfect. You can adjust amounts to preference. The extra citrus juice adds a really nice brightness to the drink that I love plus extra vitamin C right!

My mom would make us something similar to a hot toddy when we weren’t feeling well and although I hated it at the time it did really help us go to sleep and feel a lot better the next day. She would warm wine or mix tea with a touch of whiskey or tsipouro (Greek alcoholic drink made from pressed grapes herbs and berries) when we had a bad cough or cold. It always worked wonders and if it didn’t it would knock us out cold! Got to love home remedies! Wether you have a cold or not a hot toddy is really just spiking your tea and so worth trying!

Ingredients

Makes 2 cups

• 1 cup fresh or dried sorrel
• 2½ cups water plus 2 more cups boiling water
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 star anise
• ½ inch fresh ginger sliced
• 2 slices of orange, lime or lemon plus the peel and extra for garnish
• 2-3 tbsp of honey according to taste
• 3 ounces of brandy, whisky or rum
• ¼ of a lemon, orange or lime juice freshly squeezed
  

Directions

1. Remove the petals off the flower and rinse them well if using fresh only

2. Place the fresh or dried sorrel In a medium sized saucepan along with the water, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, star anise and orange slices and peel and bring everything to a boil on medium

3. Once boiling lower the heat to a simmer and allow to simmer stirring often for approx 5-10 minutes. The water will turn a nice deep red.

4. In the meantime boil there remaining two cups of water in a kettle and you can use this to heat your mug up by filling it with the boiling or warm water (optional step but who doesn’t love a warm mug – will keep your drink warmer longer too and melt the honey or sweetener faster)

5. Once the glass is warm dump out the water and coat the bottom of the cup with honey

6. Add the liquor and squeeze the juice from a quarter lemon, lime or orange

7. Strain and pour in the hibiscus/sorrel mixture to the mugs and stir well. Add more honey if you want it sweeter and enjoy

Inspired by a basic hot toddy recipe from The Spruce