Enriching street-vended zobo (Hibiscus sabdariffa) drink with turmeric (Curcuma longa) to increase its health-supporting properties

Street-vended foods are cheap, readily available and have been currently identified as possible means for micronutrient fortification in an effort to prevent malnutrition in developing countries. The effect of enriching street-vended zobo drink (Hibiscus sabdariffa) with turmeric (Curcuma longa) was studied to assess the potential to increase health-supporting properties for its consumers. Two processing methods were tested: boiled turmeric root in zobo and addition of fresh turmeric paste to zobo in different concentrations. Vitamin C in turmeric-fortified zobo ranged from 496-725 μg per 100 mL, delphinidin-3-sambubioside from 52-69 mg per 100 mL, and cyanidin-3-sambubioside from 21-27 mg per 100 mL. Micronutrients ranged from 10.9-14 mg L⁻¹and 2.19-2.67 mg L⁻¹for iron and zinc, respectively. Folic acid, vitamin C, anthocyanins and iron showed the highest amounts in the 2% boiled turmeric zobo samples. Ferulic acid (0.16-2.03 mg per 100 mL), and chlorogenic acid (20-24 mg per 100 mL) did not show the same statistically significant improvement for 2% boiled turmeric-fortified zobo. The zobo samples with turmeric paste consistently had lower values of vitamins, polyphenols and minerals in comparison with the boiled turmeric-fortified zobo samples. Turmeric-fortified zobo can play a role in a healthy diet by its health-supporting properties. Consumption of a typical one serving of 500 mL (representative packaged bottle size of zobo drink by the street vendors in Nigeria) of turmeric-fortified zobo would contribute 63-88% DV and 18-23% DV of iron and zinc. Overall, fortification with boiled turmeric improves the antioxidant and nutritional quality of zobo, specifically regarding vitamin C, delphinidin-3-sambubioside and iron.