Sorrel

Meaning

A deep-red drink brewed from the dried calyces (sepals) of the roselle hibiscus plant, steeped with ginger, cloves, pimento and sugar, and often laced with rum. In Jamaica the word usually names the Christmas beverage rather than the leafy European herb also called sorrel.

Examples

• “Yuh done draw di sorrel fi Christmas yet?”

  Have you steeped the sorrel for Christmas yet?

  'Draw' is the verb used for steeping the calyces in hot water; 'done' marks completion.

• “Put likkle white rum inna di sorrel fi di big people dem.”

  Put a little white rum in the sorrel for the adults.

  'Big people dem' means the grown-ups; 'dem' pluralises.

• “Di sorrel cold an sweet, mi a drink two glass.”

  The sorrel is cold and sweet, I'm drinking two glasses.

  No copula before 'cold'; 'a drink' is the continuous.

Origin

English 'sorrel', a name transferred to the roselle hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) in the Caribbean; the plant itself likely reached the region from West Africa.

How it's used

Everyday food term but heavily seasonal, tied to the Christmas holidays. Speakers abroad may confuse it with the green herb sorrel; in Jamaican usage the red hibiscus drink is meant unless stated otherwise.