- Published: 13 July 2026
From a Kitchen Table to an IWSC Silver Medal: The Journey Behind Soruhl
Three years ago, Soruhl existed only as an idea.
Not in a factory or a business plan, but around my dining table. It was a simple thought that refused to leave me: what if more people could experience the drink I had grown up with?
For as long as I can remember, Jamaican sorrel has been part of family celebrations. Made with hibiscus, fresh ginger, citrus and warming spices, it’s a drink that brings people together. After moving to Sweden, I realised that although people were becoming more adventurous with food and drink, very few had ever experienced authentic Jamaican sorrel. That simple observation became the beginning of Soruhl.
Turning an Idea into a Bottle
Like most new businesses, the journey wasn’t straightforward.
There were months spent sourcing ingredients, refining recipes and asking friends to take part in what felt like endless rounds of blind taste testing. Every adjustment was made with one goal in mind: to create a drink that stayed true to the flavours I knew growing up while introducing them to people discovering sorrel for the first time.
There were plenty of late nights, moments of doubt and lessons learned along the way, but each step brought the idea a little closer to becoming a reality.
Six Months After Launch
Six months after launching Soruhl at the Stockholm Food & Wine Festival, something happened that I never expected quite so soon.
Soruhl Elixir was awarded a Silver Medal in the Alternative Drinks category at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2024.
The IWSC is one of the world’s most respected drinks competitions, judged by industry experts against exceptionally high standards. To see a drink inspired by traditional Jamaican sorrel recognised on that stage was both surreal and incredibly humbling.
For me, the medal represents much more than recognition for a bottle. It represents the value of heritage, craftsmanship and the belief that authentic stories still have a place in today’s drinks industry.
Looking Ahead
Winning a Silver Medal isn’t the finish line. If anything, it feels like the beginning of the next chapter.
There are still many people who have never tasted Jamaican sorrel, many stories about hibiscus waiting to be told and plenty more to learn as Soruhl continues to grow.
I’m incredibly grateful to my family, friends and everyone who has supported the brand from the beginning. Every conversation, every bottle purchased and every word of encouragement has helped make this journey possible.
If you’ve never experienced authentic Jamaican sorrel before, I’d love to introduce you to it.