It's Christmas, that time of year we throw our diets through the window and enjoy our seasonal favourites. 

When it comes to beverages, some drinks are common across the islands, though made with varying ingredients, while there are some unique to specific countries. 

These drinks add to the Christmas spirit and make Christmas in the Caribbean extra special. 

Sorrel

This delicious ruby-red drink is a Christmas fave in the islands,  each putting its unique twist on it. In Trinidad and Tobago, the hibiscus is boiled with bay leaves, cloves and cinnamon sticks. In Jamaica, ginger features heavily in the mixture, while others throw a dose of rum to spice it up.

Ginger Beer

This is a popular drink in Guyana at Christmas time. Made with fresh peeled ginger that is boiled and fermented, this beverage is brought to life with clove, cinnamon, and citrus peel.

Ponche de Crème

The T&T version of eggnog, Ponche de Crème, is a trendy Christmas beverage that can be enjoyed with friends over fruitcake and pastilles. It is made with condensed and evaporated milk, rum, egg, nutmeg and Bitters. In Jamaica, a version of this is called Egg Punch or Egg Nog, made with Guinness Stout.

Peardrax

It isn’t Christmas in T&T unless you have some Peardrax. Originally a British beverage manufactured by Whiteways of Whimple, Devon, Peardrax was inexplicably popular in T&T. When the brand disappeared from UK shelves due to plummeting sales, Pepsi Cola Trinidad Bo, a ttling Company, began bottling and distributing the fizzy pear drink.

Ponche Kuba Cream Liqueur

Popular in Antigua and Barbuda, this is a spiced rum-based cream liqueur from the Caribbean,  created by Don Jaime Sprock in 1942. Sprock, a Caribbean merchant, ventured to Cuba, where he sampled and collected various homemade Caribbean cream liqueurs called  'Ponche’. After much research, he combined all his ingredients into one drink.