Mamajuana – “Mystical” national drink of the Dominican Republic

So what is it that everybody is talking about ?

It’s generally accepted that Mamajuana is the national drink of the Dominican Republic, natural remedy for all aches and pains and aphrodisiac for those who strongly believe in it.

The specific herbs that make up Mamajuana were originally prepared as an herbal tea by the native Taino Indians and it was believed that alcohol was added to the recipe by the Spaniards when settling down in Santo Domingo, creating an early form of the Mamajuana, but no such scientific prove could not be found.

This never answered Question: Who made it first?

The actual drink as we know it today had been invented by Jesus Rodriguez in the 1950s, Mama Juana was created to be an herbal medicine that apart from acting as an aphrodisiac could rid you of the flu, aid digestion and circulation, and cleanse the blood, liver and kidneys. Basically, it was an all-inclusive healer.

The alcohol is said to act as an extract base that pulls the herbs’ curative properties, creating an herbal tincture often served as a shot.

The medicinal qualities of the drink derive from the bark and herbs that steep in the alcohol, creating a sort of natural tincture of herbal goodness that is thought to benefit the body in all sorts of ways.

Interesting to know:

Thanks to the almost immediate success of the concoction, people across the country began making their own versions of the drink, touting different benefits depending on the herbs they’d chosen to use.
And this became somewhat of a problem, because with so many different versions of the drink out there, almost anyone could make and sell it.

In response, President Trujillo chose to control the production and sale of Mama Juana by restricting who could produce it, decreeing that only those with a certified medical license could produce and sell Mama Juana.

In doing so, he also legitimized the drink as a medicinal elixir and placed it on the path to becoming the National Libation of the country.

With ONLY 3 key ingredients you create a powerful mixture that cures it all!

Bring water to boil and poor it in to the bottle that is already filled with barks and twigs.

Let it sit for about 10 minutes and our out the water. This helps to take the bitterness out of the bark and opens up the pours for the actual alcohol mixture.
Add now 1/3 honey to 1/3 brown rum preferable, mix well before poring it together with red wine or Sangria to fill the bottle.

Let this mixture sit for at least 1 week before serving at room temperature. You can refill this mixture up to 5 years, just make sure that your roots never dry out.

Each family has their own mixture and you can find cinnamon sticks and vanilla added as well as cognac or vodka.

People refer to Mamajuana as the ‘baby maker’ and El Para Palo (‘lift the stick’) You have to decide and try on your own if this has an aphrodisiac effect on you or if this is just one of many myths of the Dominican people.

And don’t forget this important details about Mamajuana!

• Just be aware that some customs agents prohibit dry Mamajuana ingredients from leaving the country, and that like all liquids bottles of Mamajuana should be stored in checked baggage to comply with airline security rules.

• When on one of the Outback Adventure tours you definitely have  to try our delicious mixture and you will be invited to join a circle to perform this weird looking dance.

• Latest when the guide tells you to repeat after him: ” pa’ riba , pa bajo , al centro…sexy movimiento ,salud pa’ dentro ” you know you are up for some hysterical laughter . Don’t over-think it, just go with it and you will see it is a lot of fun.