Sobolo: ingredients, health benefits, side effects
Sobolo is a drink that is common in different parts of Africa, especially Ghana. The name of the drink varies from one country to another. Its grapery taste makes it a favourite choice for most people. Apart from its taste, people use it for medicinal purposes.
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Sobolo is simply hibiscus tea. So, you should not be surprised when someone refers to the beverage using the name. Currently, it is available in different variations giving its users a wide range of option to choose a flavour of their choice. Sobolo drink has lots of benefits and a few side effects one should know before using it.
What is Sobolo made of?
Often, the drink is made from Hibiscus leaves or Basap leaves as they are commonly known in West Africa. Other ingredients may include ginger, sugar, as well as other spices depending on the taste one wants to achieve. That said, below are different various spices and methods one can use to make the drink.
Method 1: Preparing sobolo using cloves
This is the most common and simplest method of preparing Sobolo recipe.
Major Sobolo ingredients
Here are the spices used in making sobolo drink you might want to familiarize yourself with as you head to the grocery. They include:
Source: UGC
- 100 grams of dried hibiscus flowers leaves and leaves
- 3 tablespoon of pounded and dried cloves
- 4 tablespoons of sugar
- 2 L of water
READ ALSO: How many bitter kola a day is ok for your health?
How to make Sobolo
The following are the steps for making it.
- Clean the leaves and soak them in jar containing 1 litre of water for a night
- Carefully strain the mixture from the chaff
- Boil the remaining water and allow to cool before adding some to the mixture
- Drain the mixture using a fine strainer or clean cloth
- Add sugar and stir to dissolve it
- Allow it to settle for 30 minutes
- Transfer the mixture to another clean jar slowly leaving the chaff below
- Put the now filtered solution in the fridge, and it will be ready for use
Method 2: Preparing Sobolo with pineapple
This is the second method on how to prepare sobolo. The pineapples used in this method enhance its flavour and gives it an appealing smell.
Ingredients
- 2 cups of dried hibiscus leaves/sobolo leaves
- One cup of pineapple juice
- ½ cup of grounded ginger
- 3 tablespoons of sugar
- 4 cups of clean water
Steps for making the drink
- Pour all the water into the saucepan
- Add all the hibiscus leaves. Ensure the water fully covers them
- Allow the mixture to boil for 10-15 minutes. By this time it should have changed its colour
- Add both pineapple juice and ginger to the mixture and stir thoroughly until they fully blend
- Remove the mixture from heat and allow to cool
- Add sugar and stir before storing the drink in the freezer
- If you want to use it immediately, you can add ice cubes to the drink
Overall, the ingredients for sobolo drink are easy to find as most of them are available in our local groceries or nearby market. Considering the availability of the ingredients, do you have a reason why you should not make the drink at the comfort of your home?
What are the benefits of drinking hibiscus tea?
Source: UGC
Popularly known as Sobolo in West Africa, hibiscus tea has plenty of benefits to the body. To name but a few, it regulates blood sugar levels in the body, helps with menstrual cramps, aids in digestion as well as other body-related complications. To learn more about the benefits, you might need to consider reading on.
READ ALSO: Spiritual uses of Prekese
Top health benefits of Sobolo
Drinking it is fun, but have you ever asked yourself its value to the body? Well, here is a summary of its importance to the body.
1. Regulates blood sugar levels
A few cups of the drink have been proven to be more effective as compared to most hypertension drugs. Besides, it does not contain chemicals as it is the case to most hospital drugs. Precisely, three cups of the drink are said to have a significant effect worth trying.
Though, “does Sobolo gives blood” query is yet to be answered. Maybe with more research, the claim will be established.
2. It may lower cholesterol levels in the body
Often, we take in a lot of foods containing fats. Most of the fats form around the heart, putting someone's life in danger. The drink contains an element known as bioflavonoids that may hinder cholesterol forming in the arteries.
3. May promotes liver health
The juice contains calcium oxalate that has been established to breakdown kidney stones. Also, it has been linked to preventing possible damage to the liver. However, more studies are yet to be conducted to prove this effect. Sobolo and kidney disease claims are therefore somehow valid.
4. The perfect solution to cold
In addition to containing antioxidants, sobolo contains Vitamin C. The element is responsible for preventing various infections in the body, including flu, common cold among many others. Also, it may speed up the healing of wounds.
5. Cutting of weight loss
The oxidants in Sobolo help to regulate someone’s weight. Also, it has been proven to surpass a person’s appetite to some extent. This is good news because you do not need to buy pills or resolve for surgery.
Other benefits of the drink may include:
- It helps to manage menstrual cramps
- Treating depression
- Eases digestion
- Slows ageing
- Can increase milk production
- Contains laxative effect
Side effects of sobolo
Even with its numerous benefits, there are a few side effects that have been associated with the drink. Some of them are:
- First, is Sobolo good for pregnancy? Well, Sobolo and pregnancy do not go along. This is the main side effect of the beverage. It contains an element that interferes with hormone levels in a pregnant woman.
- Not suitable for diabetic patients and breastfeeding mothers.
- Can lower blood pressure to undesirable levels.
- May contain hallucinating effects
Sobolo is not only tasty but also has many medicinal values to the body. The drink can easily be prepared at home using hibiscus leaves and other readily available ingredients. Its therapeutic components help to many health complications.
READ ALSO: Ginger benefits for men
Source: YEN.com.gh
