Bissap

Bissap is the deep ruby-red hibiscus cooler of West Africa, made by steeping the dried crimson sepals of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa) with sugar and, very often, fresh mint. Tart and cranberry-like under its sweetness, it is the national drink of Senegal and The Gambia, sold ice-cold from market stalls, street carts and home kitchens across the Sahel and the coast. It is non-alcoholic and naturally caffeine-free, and its colour and bracing acidity come entirely from the flower's calyces, not from any added dye. The same drink travels the world under other names — sobolo, zobo, karkadé, sorrel, agua de jamaica.