Egyptian E’nab is the only cold drink you need this summer to refresh and hydrate. It is a vibrant ruby iced tea made of a mix of tropical tangy tamarind fruit juice and delicate floral hibiscus tea. A match truly made in heaven. What is E’nab

E’nab is a traditional and refreshing Egyptian summer drink that is made of boiled tamarind and steeped hibiscus dehydrated flowers.

Typically, it is served during the month of Ramadan to break the dawn-to-dusk fasting and intensely hydrate the body, as well as provide it with the necessary anti-oxidants. 

Whole Tamarind Fruit

Hibiscus Dehydrated Flowers

Made of both tamarind and hibiscus flowers, E’nab is quite exotic with a unique flavor profile. It is tropical, tart, sweet, floral, and fruity all at once. 

The Backstory of E’nab  

To stay hydrated and energetic amid this intense and unprecedented heatwave, I have been experimenting with a variety of traditional Egyptian hydrating cold drinks, including Sobia, Karkadeeh, and mint-lime smoothie, just to name a few.   

While the above-mentioned drinks are delicious and worth trying, E’nab is the one drink that truly stood out, garnering wide approval from my family members as well as visitors and home guests. 

Back in Egypt, E’nab was considered an omnipresent street food drink that Egyptians seldom made at home. They relied on street stalls to savor E’nab at a fairly affordable rate.  

E’nab Health Benefits 

The two main ingredients of E’nab, which are tamarind and hibiscus, rank high in terms of nutritional benefits. 

How to Make E’nab

The intensity and sweetness of E’nab is totally up to you! Feel free to control the amount of sugar and play with the balance of flavors as well.

Step 1

Whether you use whole tamarind pods or a tamarind slab, soak 1 cup of tamarind flesh in 3 cups of water for 1 hour before you boil it for 20 minutes on low heat.

Step 2

Drain the tamarind using a fine mesh sieve fitted over a jug. Discard the solids and save the drained liquid. 

Step 3

Steep 1/4 cup of hibiscus flowers in 1 cup of hot water and let it steep for 30 minutes or until it cools down completely. Drain the water and discard the hibiscus flowers.  

Step 4

Mix the tamarind water and the hibiscus tea in the same jug, sweeten it to taste, and chill it in the fridge.

Step 5

Pour E’nab in tall glasses over ice and serve immediately. 

Freezing & Make Ahead 

You can batch E’nab and freeze in ice cubs or ziplocks. 

Check Out More Egyptian Drink on My Blog  

You might also like:

• Lemoon Be Na’na’ (Mint-Lime Smoothie)
• Kharoob (Egyptian Carob Cold Drink)
• Karkadeeh (Hibiscus Ice Tea)
• Sobia (Coconut-Rice Cold Drink)

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E’nab (Egyptian Tamarind & Hibiscus Ice Tea)

INGREDIENTS 

• 2 cups tamarind water (recipe follows) 
• 1 cup hibiscus tea (recipe follow) 
• Sugar, honey, or monk fruit sugar to taste. 
• Ice for serving 

To Make the Tamarind Water 

• 1/2 cup tamarind 
• 3 cups water 

To Make the Hibiscus Ice Tea 

• 1/4 cup hibiscus loose dehydrated leaves or 2 tea bags 
• 1 cup boiling water 

DIRECTIONS

1. Soak 1/2 cup of tamarind in 3 cups of water for 1 hour and then boil it for 20 minutes. Run the tamarind through a fine mesh sieve, discard the solids, and save the liquid. 
2. Steep 1/4 cup hibiscus in hot water until the water cools down and becomes at room temperature.
3. In a jug, mix the tamarind water and the hibiscus iced tea and sweeten to taste.
4. Pour into tall glasses over ice and serve. 

Nermine’s Notes: 

• Batch E’nab and freeze it in ziplocks or ice cubes.