I love serving guests my homemade Folere Drink. It’s fruity, refreshing and brings back memories of homemade drinks from my childhood.
This hibiscus-based beverage is versatile, full of benefits, and can be made year-round. This version is made without refined sugar.
In colder months I often make hot drinks like honey lemon tea or ginger drink. When it’s warm I prefer homemade juices such as watermelon mint or pineapple lemonade. Folere—a tangy, ruby-red drink from hibiscus petals—is one of my favorites to keep in the fridge so I can pour a glass whenever I want.
Homemade Folere Drink
Folere is hibiscus tea known by many names: Folere in Cameroon, Zobo in Nigeria, Sobolo in Ghana, and Sorrel in the Caribbean. It’s made from Hibiscus sabdariffa and tastes particularly delightful over ice. It’s inexpensive to make, great for guests, and has several nutritional perks.
- May help lower high blood pressure
- Supports cholesterol management
- Can support metabolism and gradual weight loss
- Contains compounds that support liver function and may reduce cancer risk
Sweetening (and Flavor) Options
Folere is naturally tart, so a sweetener or fruit addition balances the flavor. In this recipe I use both the flesh and the peel of a pineapple: the peels add natural sweetness and aroma when boiled with the hibiscus while the flesh is pureed and added later.
Other flavor ideas include fresh ginger, cinnamon, lemon, or fruit concentrates such as strawberry, banana, or pineapple. You can sweeten with granulated sugar, brown sugar, or natural sweeteners—this version uses dates for a refined-sugar-free option.
For a brighter red color some people add a red powdered drink concentrate. I sometimes use pantry staples to tweak color and taste, but the core ingredients deliver vibrant flavor on their own.
Watch How I Make It
I filmed this recipe as part of my Cameroonian Street Food series on YouTube. The video shows each step so you can follow along easily.
The Ingredients
Most dried hibiscus petals are widely available in international, Asian, or Mexican markets. For the drink you’ll need:
- Hibiscus petals: the main ingredient.
- Pineapple: use the peel for boiling and the flesh for pureeing.
- Ginger: adds a warm, spicy note.
- Dates: natural sweetener—soak first so they blend smoothly.
Variations
Feel free to adapt the recipe depending on what you have or the occasion:
- Spiced Folere: boil hibiscus with cloves and cinnamon for a holiday twist.
- Hot hibiscus tea: serve warm with spices during cooler weather.
- Minty version: add a few mint sprigs while boiling for fresh mint flavor.
Tip: For a more concentrated flavor use less water and more hibiscus petals.
How To Make Folere Drink
Step 1: Soak the dates.
Place the pitted dates in a bowl and cover with hot water to soften while you prepare the other ingredients.
Step 2: Add ingredients to the pot.
- Rinse the hibiscus petals if they contain any debris.
- Add the hibiscus to a large pot.
- Rinse the pineapple well, peel it, and add the peels to the pot.
- Pour in enough water to cover everything (about 10 cups works well).
- Grate the ginger and add to the pot.
Step 3: Boil and cool.
Bring the pot to a rolling boil on medium-high and let it boil about 5 minutes. To cool quickly, add roughly 4 cups of ice and let the mixture cool before the next step, or allow it to cool overnight in the fridge.
Step 4: Blend pineapple and dates.
- Blend the pineapple flesh with a little water until smooth.
- Drain the soaked dates and blend them into a paste, then add to the pineapple puree.
Step 5: Combine purees with hibiscus.
Stir the blended pineapple and dates into the hibiscus pot. Mix well so the flavors integrate.
Step 6: Strain the drink.
First pour the liquid through a colander to remove large pieces of peel and petals, then pass it through a fine-mesh sieve. For an extra-smooth texture, strain through cheesecloth.
Step 7: Add lemon juice, chill and serve.
Squeeze in fresh lemon juice, stir to combine, then chill in airtight containers. Serve over ice and garnish with lemon slices and mint if desired.
Adjust sweetness to taste: add more dates for more sweetness or dilute with water if it’s too sweet.
Expert Tips
- Let the folere sit overnight in the fridge so the flavors deepen.
- Sieve through cheesecloth for an ultra-smooth drink.
- The drink is natural and will settle—shake well before serving.
- Garnish each glass with lemon and fresh mint for better presentation.
- Folere freezes well. Freeze extras in trays or containers and thaw in the fridge when needed, or use frozen folere cubes to chill future servings without diluting flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Folere pairs well with savory snacks and casual meals such as Cameroonian sandwiches, grilled soya, fried pork and plantains, snails, fish rolls, or puff puff.
Similar Recipes
Some other homemade drinks you might enjoy:
Ginger Drink
Pineapple Ginger Juice
Mango Juice
Watermelon Mint Juice
Watermelon Lemonade
Honey Lemon Tea
This recipe was first published in 2016 and has since been updated to a sugar-free version with new photos and helpful tips.
If you make this recipe please leave a star rating below. Your rating helps others find the recipe and I love hearing from you. Thank you!
Folere Drink (Cameroonian Hibiscus Drink)
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Ingredients
- 3 cups dried hibiscus petals
- 2 cups pitted Medjool dates
- 1 medium pineapple
- 2 thumb-size pieces ginger root
- 2 lemons
Instructions
- Soak the dates in hot water to soften.
- Rinse the hibiscus petals and add them to a large pot.
- Rinse and peel the pineapple; add the peels to the pot.
- Add enough water to cover everything (about 10 cups).
- Grate the ginger and add to the pot.
- Bring to a rolling boil on medium-high and boil for 5 minutes. Add ice to cool rapidly or refrigerate to cool overnight.
- Blend the pineapple flesh with water until smooth, then add to the pot.
- Blend the soaked dates into a paste and stir into the pot.
- Strain through a colander, then a fine mesh sieve (or cheesecloth) until smooth.
- Add lemon juice, chill in airtight containers, and serve over ice.
Video
Notes
- Let the folere sit overnight in the fridge for best flavor.
- Pass the drink through cheesecloth for a smoother texture.
- Shake well before serving as natural settling may occur.
- Refer to the tips above for more helpful notes.