Christmas time is perhaps the one time you can entertain with sorrel drink.

Also referred to as spinach dock, sorrel is a plant known for its tart taste and powerful health benefits.

This vibrant leafy green and its fruit are used to add a sharp, citrusy flavor to soups, sauces, salads, and beverages. Certain varieties are also used to make herbal teas, tinctures, and supplements.

According to Healthline, Sorrel is a type of leafy green used as an herb and a vegetable.

It’s cultivated in Europe, Central Asia, and certain parts of North America, parts of Latin America, Australia, Africa and New Zealand .

It has a sour, lemon-like flavor and is often featured in dishes like soups, stews, and curries. It’s also used medicinally, as it’s touted to promote healthy digestion, decrease inflammation, and treat mouth ulcers.

The two most commonly grown types are known as French and common sorrel. Compared with common sorrel, the French version is less bitter and grows taller with smaller, more rounded leaves.

Other species of sorrel include:

• sheep sorrel
• arctic dock
• patience dock
• broad-leaved sorrel
• red-veined sorrel

Certain plants and foods share a similar name but are unrelated. For example, wood sorrel is a type of edible weed found throughout North America. Similarly, in Jamaica, the term sorrel refers to roselle, a type of hibiscus plant.

Here is a recipe from celebrated Edmonton chef Keno.

Jamaican Sorrel

4 cups dried sorrel
1.5 cups rough chop ginger skin on
12-14 all spice berries
12-14 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
Peel from 1 orange
2 1/2 cups of sugar
4 quarts water

-In a large sauce pot add the sorrel, ginger, allspice,cloves, cinnamon, orange peel and water
-Bring to a boil for about two minutes then reduce to a simmer for 2-3 hrs
-Remove from heat then let sit and cool for an additional 2-3 hours ( the longer the better)
-Use the sugar to make a simple syrup ( which works better for incorporating in the sorrel)

Making simple syrup

• simply combine the sugar with water at a ratio of 2:1 in a pot
  Bring to a boil until sugar is completely dissolved
  Cool and store in mason jar
• Strain your sorrel and sweeten with your simple syrup

For a more festive drink add white rum 🍹

Chef Keno sent this recipe to LCCMedia from “ Kenos Kitchen”. You can contact Chef Keno at kenotain@gmail.com.

 

Thank you for taking the time