Zobo drink is a special drink made from leaves known as Hibiscus sabdarriffa. It is a herb that is widely consumed in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole.
The drink is very nutritious and is served at parties such as birthdays, naming ceremonies, marriages etc. Zobo is the name given to it by the Hausas which has become widely accepted by every tribe in Nigeria.
Apart from their nutritive tendencies there are also well-known and consumed for their many health benefits. Zobo drink is mostly served with Nigerian snacks such as meat pie, samosa, chin-chin, doughnut etc.
HOW TO START ZOBO DRINK BUSINESS
In zobo drink business so many things have to be put into considerations such as:
Bottling/packaging
You and I know that this present age that we are in, the packaging is what makes the difference between a winning business and a failing one.
Why did I say so? Because 90% of the people will rather go for a well-packaged product than a shabby one. Someone said to me I don’t care whether a cake is tasty or not I will rather go for a well decorated non-tasty cake than a tasty cake with unappealing decoration. Can you beat that? So make use of good packaging.
Taste:
Another thing to consider is the taste. Have you ever taken anything that doesn’t taste well, if yes what was your reaction? I guess it was a total rejection after spewing it out. The same will happen to a zobo drink without a good taste. You have to make sure you put all the ingredients in the right proportion for it to taste good.
Availability:
Be sure to make the product readily available. In other words, consistency should be the watchword. Do not introduce a nice zobo drink today and tomorrow you are no way to be found. Or produce in volumes today then tomorrow one can only count the few containers you produced.
Always make it available at all times, that way you can penetrate the market and also gain ground.
Hygiene:
This should be a priority, let it enter the list of topmost importance. People will run away from any zobo that causes a running stomach, has sand or particles in it etc.
If someone consumes your product and it does not only refreshes or nourishes the body but also gives a feeling of satisfaction. Then you are sure to make a name in this business.
Do not use saccharine in place of sugar or sweetener to make your zobo.
Competitors:
Yes, you have to look at your locality to see the already established Zobo drink companies if there are any. Check out what is giving them the drive then come back and make your own better by developing a better strategy.
Most of the zobo drinks we see are the ones that are sold with an already used container of another drink. To make a brand you have to use something unique and different from the common ones we see around.
Zobo drink is yet to be commercially packaged, branded and distributed like other drinks. If properly branded with intensive and extensive advertisement it will fly.
You should take a clue from zobocola. It is a refined zobo, certified by NAFDAC. Zobocola comes with 40cl and 50cl sizes.
HOW TO MAKE ZOBO DRINK
INGREDIENTS
- Zobo leaves (dry) 1 mudu
- Fresh or powdered ginger 1 or 3 tablespoons
- Pineapple 1
- Flavour 2 sachet – it could be a mixture of different types such as pineapple, lemon, strawberry etc. (Optional)
- Konifera seeds- few
PROCEDURE
- Wash the zobo thoroughly in clean water because zobo leaves have plenty of dirt in it arising from dust and other dirt. When you are washing the colour of the leaves will come out and it will look as if you are washing off all the colours. Never mind keep on washing because zobo leaves are very rich in colour and flavour. That is why it is possible to wash them, dry and reuse them at a later time.
- Peel the pineapple and cut them into small sizes. You can use the peel, most people do that. Because apart from being medicinal it also adds flavour to the zobo. If you must use it, you have to take enough time and energy to wash them because the peel contains some germs which are difficult to get rid of easily. Due to their thorny nature so if you can’t devote much time to get rid of them then don’t bother adding them.
IN CONTINUATION
- Dress the garlic and ginger and cut them into tiny pieces.
- Put the wash zobo leaves inside a big pot, add the sliced pineapple put enough water into the content and boil for 5-10 minutes
- Add the chopped garlic and ginger and allow to boil for 30 minutes.
- Bring it down from the fire and allow it to cold. Squeeze juice out from the content and sieve them with a sieving material.
- Package them and put them in the refrigerator. It is best served when chilled.
Serve with snacks or any other thing that can go with it. Some people uses honey/dates (debinor) in place of sugar.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF ZOBO
- Zobo drink is rich in ascorbic acid known as vitamin C. It is an essential nutrient required by the body to boost and stimulate immune system activities.
- Aids in digestion of food due to its diuretic properties which in turn helps in controlling constipation by increasing bowel movement and removing excess fluid from the body.
- Zobo drink has a cooling effect that takes care of fever discomfort. It is good in anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
- It is used in the relieve of cramps and menstrual pains. This is done by restoring hormonal balance which suppresses menstrual symptoms such as depression.
- Hibiscus drink helps in weight loss when drank frequently without additives. This is because it lowers the absorption of glucose and starch. It is good in improving gastrointestinal system which helps in avoidance of colorectal cancer.
- Zobo tea is used as a supplement to treat a cough and cater (cold generally).
- The have vitamins and minerals which helps in calming down nervous system thereby reducing anxiety and depression by creating a relaxed sensation in the body.
MORE BENEFITS OF ZOBO DRINK
Zobo drink also helps in lowering blood pressure in pre/mild hypertensive adults. It helps in protecting people who are at high risk of cardiovascular diseases. This can be achieved when you drink 3 cups of hibiscus tea every day for some weeks.
Hibiscus tea helps in keeping the body ph balanced.
You can call it zobo/hibiscus drink or tea.
The leaves generally contain riboflavin, vitamin c, niacin, carotene, calcium and iron which are very nutritional and medicinally good for the body.
They contain anti-oxidant properties that help in protecting the body from diseases by neutralizing the free radicals present in the body tissues and cells.
OTHER USES ZOBO ARE
It can be used for dye.
Zobo leaves can be used in cooking soup
Hibiscus plant can be cultivated as an ornamental plant for the beautification of our surroundings.
ZOBO SHELF LIFE
Zobo can last between 48-72 hours but can last more than a month when stored in the refrigerator. However, to make it last up to 3 weeks or more shelf life. Add a stock solution of 0.1% sodium benzoate.
Dissolve a pound of sodium benzoate in one gallon of water. Use one ounce of the solution, that is about 0.1% to mix with the zobo drink. Which is the recommended concentration for a non-carbonated beverage like zobo.
HOW TO BOTTLE ZOBO DRINK
There are some bottling samples such as coca cola, spirit, fanta etc. But it should be something uniquely different from others. Such that anybody sighting the drink without coming closer will know that is your zobo drink. Mix several flavours until you get the desired taste. The taste has to be consistent (write it down somewhere less you forget), uniquely different from any other zobo drink.
Print labels and paste them on it. Use a well conned and appealing name that can easily be memorized and pronounced.
Make sure the mouth is properly sealed in other to guarantee for its quality and hygienic conditions. Use different sizes of containers such as 50cl, 75cl etc and sell at different prices.
WHY YOU SHOULD GO INTO ZOBO DRINK PRODUCTION
The raw materials can be sourced for locally at a cheap price.
Zobo business is not capital-intensive. For a small-scale, you can start with #5,000 without branding. For a large-scale production, you can start with #200,000 and above.
It is a local drink that is loved by many because of its health benefits and the fact that it is very natural without or with fewer chemicals used in the preparation.
The demand for it is high and far outweighs the supply.
Zobo business is not yet saturated we have only but for persons in this business. The ones that are prevalent everywhere is the already used packaged zobo drink.
It is very lucrative.
PROFITABILITY IN ZOBO DRINK BUSINESS
It is very profitable. You can make almost the same amount used in producing the zobo drink. In other to make more profits try buying the raw materials in bulk. Buy the zobo in bags.
After branding it, make the price a little costlier than the roadside own or equal to. Remember, overturn is where the gains lie. You are bound to make a huge profit when you produce in volumes.
MARKETABILITY
Zobo drink does not require much stress just mere calling the name zobo and you will see people rushing you to buy.
Sell to shops, supermarkets, wholesalers of soft drinks, bars, restaurants, hotels, markets, schools, hospitals and other institutions etc.
Do online advertisement in any or all of the online market stores. Also, you can employ some people to sell for you. I have heard of a woman in Lagos State that makes #15,000 every day from the sells of zobo drink.
This she does by employing two individuals to sell for her. There is another lady who is making it big in zobo business she covers both Edo and Delta States. She said it is overwhelming because she can’t meet up with demands.
WHY ZOBO IS NOT GOOD FOR PREGNANT WOMEN
To avoid health and maternity implications, it is advisable for pregnant women not to take zobo drink. A research work that was published by Africa Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine; revealed that consumption of zobo during lactation decreases maternal food and fluid intake, delays puberty in female offspring and increases weight gain during postnatal.
It is also said to result in low birth weight.
EXPORTATION OF ZOBO DRINK
The minister for Agriculture told made it clear that the exportation of zobo drink doubled that of the previous year. That is in 2017 more than 35 million dollars was realized from the export of zobo drink.
This is encouraging don’t you think so? It is very easy to export this product. Find how to and start yours today.
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Hello Eno Johnson,
I loved what you wrote and it’s very encouraging to someone who is starting out in Small business. Please can you kindly write me a recipe on large scale zobo drink recipe with preservatives than can give it a long shelf life. Please I understand better in kg’s and or litres or grams. Thank you
Thanks@Olipa, I will look into it but you have to call me on 08035965405
God bless you Eno Johnson. I am so blessed with your article and will contact you for the Nafdac registration when am ready, once more, God bless you.
Amen. Thanks@Elfreda
Please can you kindly write me a recipe on large scale zobo drink recipe with preservatives than can give it a long shelf life.
Thank you so much your explanation was so clear but I’ve a question can I supply the drink to shops inorder to sell for me and at what rate please ma?
Yes @Mary, you can leave it at 60:40
Wow! So educating.
Thanks for the great information and time you put into it.
Thanks@Alice I appreciate
I gained a lot today
Thank you and God bless it’s so educating here
Smiles! Thanks@Eriola
This is very encouraging n interesting at the same time.i want to go into large scale but one of the major problem is distribution as alot of super markets won’t accept it without a nafdac number n meeting the nafdac criteria for me is very difficult.i don’t know if you can help.
Thanks@Maimuna, please if you have the money for Nafdac just go ahead. It maybe tedious but it will pay you well, I assure you. I think with trademark and Nafdac 100k may cover it.
If you want the number fast and dont want to go through the rigorous process you can call me, let me give you a contact number
Comment:Thks, i enjoyed myself y going through this insightful post.God bless u
Amen@Tovia thanks and God bless you too
This is beautiful, pls how can I reach out to you ma, maybe on WhatsApp, I need info on another local drink business.
Thanks@Majeedah. My number 08035965405
Good day
thank you for your write-up. i want to start the ZOBO business because i felt it will be a good start for me as a corp member and i was doing it when i was in secondary school but had to stop because i was a border and no time. so i want to start now but the problem is finding bottle,i have called companies but they said you must order from 1000 and above and i don’t have that money,i just want to start with 50 bottles and then get a label and the closing /sealing part is my another problem because the machine is costly. what do you advice me to do please especially the sealing part.
@Isabella I am impressed on your entrepreneural spirit starting from your early days in school. Since you have done Zobo business before it means you know how lucrative it is. So nothing should stop you not even packaging materials.
I don’t know your location but in my location I buy containers from plastic traders in the market. They are of different shapes and quality. The ranges from #10, #20 and #30, the covers are prepared in such a way that once you cover it, the bottle is sealed. Attempt to open it means you are uncorking the cover.
Please where in the market
I can pay for waybill from anywhere
This is bottling is an issue for me now ,as the ones on instagram are at high range
Please how can I message you privately
08155196689
Thank you so much for this information but I want to know if I won’t need preservative for my zobo drink.. Thanks
You can reach me on 08035965405
I have started zobo business but after adding the flavours is not given me the real zobo colour what should I do please? Thanks.
@Magdalene please check the flavour you are using and change if possible. Yours cant be diferent, it is not the flavour that gives colour
Thanks so much Eno God blessings to you, I would like to chat or call you for more insights, I do and sell at my church on sundays but I would like to brand it and distribute to supermarket and drink sellers so i need to increase the shelf life.
This is enconaging
Thank you so much. God bless you. But how do I increase the shelf life like 3months?
Thank you so much for the info. God bless you. But ho do I increase the shelf life like 3months?
Great info. My spirit is lifted, I will give a try. What is the maximum days can the zobo last?
Yes. If preserved
Thanks for the write up. So encouraging. I’ll contact you on the nafdac registration later. More insight by God’s grace ????
Adding too much water can also change the colour.
I am interested in this project n am still working on it n will need you much.
Thank you so much. I learnt a lot.
My problem is finding bottles. Is it possible to make my own bottle. How do I go about this. Thank you.
you can buy from people selling plastics in the market
I am so happy and feel relieved after going through this great write-up.
I am currently doing Zobo business and I can boldly say that the sells is hitting big time but the problem I have is that,I am a university student and I don’t know how I will keep doing the business because very soon I will get back to school.
Please look for someone you can entrust the business, it can someone related to you.
God bless you ma’am … Actually I just want to start the zobo business but with the write up I’m encouraged thanks MA…. I’ll contact you soon I need more of your advice
Thank u ma, u really encourage me but my only trouble is how to get d nafdac no cos I don’t really have d required money for it and am so interested in doing d business
NAFDAC encourage small scale producers to start but when you are growing you have to acquire NAFDAC number
Thanks for the write up it is so educating. I stumbled on this post due to research on zobo production. Thanks ma.
According to the comments section, you said there are bottles in the market that once tighten it will be like sealed bottle, is there any name for it? I am interested in that kind of bottles please. And again about the preservative I am interested to know more.
Wow.. This is really amazing.. I’m also into zobo business as I speak and i know how lucrative it can be, but with all this write up, I’ll become a millionaire in this business… I’ll chat you up on WhatsApp for guides and enquirys ma (pls)
Thank you so much Eno. God bless you. 2 years after, and your post is still relevant. A big thank you
Great write up. Thank you so much.I want to start a business and zobo keeps coming to mind. Thank you so much.
Please is it advisable to add other natural things into it? Like beetroot, cucumber, celery for commercial purposes?
You want to cut them into pieces and add?, it depends on the class of customers you are targeting
Great. I will get in touch with you soon as regards the preservative.
I am about to venture into zobo business but our light can fluctuate.
This really came at the right time,
You don’t know how relive I am
Thank you so much,
You are my mentor in this bussiness
Thank you for this advice
I appreciate you Ma. This is an eye opener. Am into the business already but having some challenges, my area, there is no light, people in my area are pricing it poorly, they want to buy 50cl for #50. Am getting discourage. But I love the business.
you are welcome Edirin, since you like the business just continue in it, one day it will breakthrough. if you have enough money buy items in bulk. lets hope light would be better someday but prepare what you can sell in a day. maybe you look for a tiny container otherwise 50cl is #100 even before the price of ingredients increased
God bless you ma, am planning to set up this business . please ma, I need your contact for more information .thanks ma
Thanks a lot for this write up. I have realized there are a lot of zobopreneurs these days especially on IG.
A lot of them are infusing different fruits like watermelon, cucumber, oranges etc to have a distinct taste and flavor
But reading this has really helped boost my confidence. Thanks a lot
You are welcome
I really love the write up
God bless you ma’am am really motivated now to do the business. It’s has been on my mind since to do the business but didn’t have that confidence in me. U have just waken up my spirit.
Will love to contact you for more details