Beverage

Wonjo (Hibiscus Juice)

Name: Wonjo (Hibiscus Juice)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 25 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: senegalese, west_african
Ingredients: 100 g dried hibiscus flowers; 2 l water; 0.25 cup fresh mint leaves; 2 pcs ginger peeled and thinly sliced; 0.5 cup sugar; 1 tsp orange blossom water (optional)

Wonjo, also known as bissap, is a refreshing and vibrant drink made from dried hibiscus flowers. This sweet and tangy beverage is popular across West Africa, perfect for cooling down on a warm day. It's naturally caffeine-free and bursting with flavor.

An original recipe by Forkin

Total time: 1 hr 25 min
Serves: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Per serving: 105 kcal

Mise en place

Ingredients

100 gdried hibiscus flowers
2 lwater
0.25 cupfresh mint leaves
2 pcsginger, peeled and thinly sliced
0.5 cupsugar
1 tsporange blossom water(optional)

Equipment

pitcher · fine-mesh sieve · large pot

The method

Step by step

1
Rinse the dried hibiscus flowers under cold water to remove any dust or impurities.
About 1 min
2
In a large pot, combine the water, rinsed hibiscus flowers, fresh mint leaves, and sliced ginger.
About 1 min
3
Bring the mixture to a boil over high heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low.
About 5 min
4
Simmer gently for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the hibiscus to release its color.
About 10 min
Cook’s note: Do not over-simmer, as it can make the juice bitter.
5
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the sugar until it is fully dissolved.
About 2 min
Cook’s note: Adjust sugar to your preferred sweetness.
6
If using, add the orange blossom water now.
7
Let the mixture cool completely to room temperature, which will take about 30-45 minutes.
About 45 min
8
Strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a clean pitcher or bottle, pressing on the solids to extract all the juice.
About 5 min
Cook’s note: You can line the sieve with cheesecloth for an even clearer juice.
9
Discard the spent hibiscus flowers, mint, and ginger.
10
Chill the wonjo in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
About 1 hr
Cook’s note: Serve over ice with a fresh mint sprig or a slice of lime.

Per serving

Nutrition

71%Score

Calories: 104.6kcal
Protein: 0.1g
Carbs: 26g
Fat: 0g
Fibre: 0.1g
Sugar: 25.1g

Estimated from the recipe’s ingredient quantities. Values can vary with brands and substitutions.

Keep it good

Storage

Store the wonjo in an airtight container or pitcher in the refrigerator.