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Creativity doesn’t just happen on your computer or piece of paper. At least, not in Nigeria. Creativity here goes beyond that.
We are very similar to super heroes.
We love food and drinks, and we have figured out creative ways to experiment and make new stuff, especially with our drinks.
And guess what, they’ve banged! At least.. most.
Here are some locally made drinks that will switch up your taste buds once you try them.
Nigerian or not, you just have to respect these drinks.
Let’s start with the common ones, like Kunu.
It is made mostly in the North.
I would like you to know that a lot of Non-Nigeria have called this drink “The Nigerian Irish Cream”. Kunu is made with groundnuts and some rice, or tiger nuts. It is rich in Protein, Minerals and Fibre.
Let me just say it again, ‘The Nigerian Irish cream’. We. have. our. own. Irish. cream.
Palmwine. This drink is the daddy of all local drinks. It could be alcoholic or non-alchoholic.
So everyone and anyone can enjoy a little palm wine.
It is consumed in every part of Nigeria and is gotten from palm trees.
“No, we thought it was gotten from apple trees.”
Sorry, I was just informing you guys now.
Anyway, if you’ve ever had pap (aka Ogi) before. Then you need to try Adoyo. This drink is deceitful because it looks like pineapple juice from afar.
But It is nothing close to fruit juice. Be warned.
Even though it is made from pineapple, it is also made from Ogi, which is made from corn.
Just look at it.
If you haven’t tired it, well, now you have a reason to.
Another incredible drink is Omi Wara. It is drank majorly by the Northerners and is made from cheese and water. Some people will disagree with the fact that it’s an incredible drink.
But, one man’s meat..
Let’s talk about Nigerian Vodka for a second, aka Ogogoro. If you’ve ever heard the names; sapele water, push me I push you, I for don marry, kai kai, etc, they are all from the same family, and their surname is Ogogoro. It is made from ripe plantain.
This drink is NOT for children.
Another alcoholic drink is Burukutu. The production of this drink takes a rather long process because it has to ferment properly, for at least 48hours.
But it’s worth the wait, just not for people not old enough to drink alcohol obviously.
Finally we have something called Groundnut Milk Drink. It is is made from groundnut of course, and is very rich in protein. It’s basically groundnut and water.
It is that drink you’d want to have when the weather is cool.
There are a lot more drinks but let’s take baby steps and try these 8 first.
A wise man once said “He was a wise man who invented beer.” That wise man was Plato
How you gonna argue with Plato?
Nigerians love beer and we can’t even deny it. Beer parlors are always full, come rain or shine.
Don’t ask me how I know this. It’s research.
Research shows that Nigerians consume about 12.28 litres of beer per year, the most in Africa.
Appaz, we’re also the Giants of Africa when it comes to drinking.
Beer even has some health benefits! What more do you want from a drink?
For real lol. Beer can actually help with reducing the risk of heart disease, providing bone strength, reducing kidney stone, cancer and diabetes risk, improving eye health and much more! If you drink too much sha, it can also help beat up your liver.
These guys have even made a business out of “therapeutic beer”.
If you fall into the category of people that say “I don’t like beer”, I’m just here to tell you that you don’t know what you’re missing.
And if you need some more convincing, will these delicious beer cocktail recipes help?
Beer Punch
Get a large jug/bowl and mix in about 35cl of Sprite, 60cl of pineapple juice and six bottles/cans of beer. You can also throw in sliced lemons, limes, oranges or whatever for an extra touch. Trust me, this will change your mind about beer forever!
Bull’s Eye
Pour 80ml of lime juice (three or four limes) into a jug, add a can of beer and ginger ale, then add like two tablespoons of sugar. Stir well and pour over ice. This is so refreshing with a nice ‘punch’.
Lemon Shandy
Start with 60ml of lemonade and add 24cl of beer (almost an entire small bottle). Just keep adding until you’re happy with the taste. And if you’re extra like that, add a few fresh mint leaves. A much easier and local version of this drink is mixing beer and Sprite. So delicious!
Find more recipes here.
West African countries have quite a lot in common when it comes to food and drink. Just see how many countries are claiming ownership of Jollof rice.
But there is also a lot of diversity we can’t help but appreciate. You probably already know what to eat when you travel across West Africa, but have you ever wondered what to drink? Check this out!
La Beninoise – Benin Republic
This is the official national drink, and definitely the cheapest beer to buy in Benin.
Zoom Koom – Burkina Faso
The traditional drink of Burkina Faso, zoom koom is a flour-based drink. It sounds a little weird, but it’s so delicious!
Grogue – Cape Verde
Cape Verde’s national drink is grogue – a rum distilled from sugar cane that has an alcohol percentage of over 40%! Honestly, the country sounds lit.
Bangui – Ivory Coast
Bangui is the national drink of Ivory Coast, and it is the local palm wine. It looks milky and is both bitter/sour and sweet.
Attaya – Gambia, Senegal
Attaya is a green tea and a way of Gambian and Senegalese life. It is served extremely hot, strong and sweet.
Asaana – Ghana
Asaana is a delicious Ghanaian drink made from fermented corn and caramelized sugar. It is absolutely refreshing and it tastes great.
Ginger Juice – Guinea
This is a Guinean drink that is everything you need it to be. It is the most delicious balance between spicy and sweet. Ask for it when next you’re in the region.
Lemongrass Tea – Liberia, Sierra Leone
This drink tastes as good as it smells… maybe better lol. This drink is a favourite in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Sweet Tea – Mali, Mauritania
Mali and Mauritania have a sweet green tea culture. It is served three times from the same pot; the first is bitter as death, the second is slightly sweetened like life, and the third being as sweet as love, as is popularly said.
Biere Niger – Niger
Although alcohol is restricted in Niger, its national drink is Biere Niger, and it is actually quite good.
Ogogoro – Nigeria
This is a very potent alcoholic drink that is distilled from fermented Raphia palm tree juice. Advance with caution.
Saint Helena – Tungi Spirit
Tungi is an alcoholic drink distilled from the cactus pear fruit. It is very strong, so make sure you’re careful with this.
Sao Tome and Principe – Palm Wine
This is a delicious sour/sweet alcoholic drink made from the sap of certain palm trees. You can pretty much find this across West Africa.
Sodabi – Togo
And finally, we have Sodabi. This is a liquor made by distilling palm wine. It’s an award-winning drink, so you can guarantee that it’s good!
What drink are you most interested in trying? And if you’re a connoisseur, what drink would you recommend? Tweet us @zikokomag!
