She transported me. I went from reading the horrific news in America and choking back tears to standing in her bright kitchen in Senegal, watching as she soaked hibiscus leaves for a refreshingly cool drink.

The lady behind the delightful Senecuisine blog, whose name I wish I knew but couldn’t find despite online searches, walked me through the steps to make “bissap juice,” which she calls, “the drink of all the occasions in Senegal.” Her recipe includes “orange blossom” and “sachets of vanilla sugar.” Yum.