What is Mamajuana?
All you need to know about the legendary Dominican spiced rum
In summary:
Mamajuana is the typical drink of the Dominican Republic. It’s a blend of rum, spices, and honey.
If you go to Punta Cana, it’s probably the first drink your bartender will offer you.
1. Mamajuana’s History
Mamajuana was originally a health tonic used by Shamans to invigorate and energize. The recipe is credited to the Taíno People, which inhabited most of the Caribbean (Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and more). Mamajuana dates back to the early 1500s.
Mamajuana gained popularity, becoming a staple in most Dominican homes. It’s considered a very important part of Dominican culture. Most households made their own recipes, and some even began selling them.
That was, until the Dominican dictator, Rafael Trujillo (aka El Jefe), caught on to the rising popularity of the rumored aphrodisiac drink. He issued a decree requiring a medical license to sell Mamajuana. As a result, Mamajuana became the signature folk drink of the Dominican Republic.
It’s commonly known in the Dominican Republic for its rumored “energizing” effects. Mamajuana has many nicknames, such as baby maker, bed breaker, and even “Dominican Viagra”. These are, of course, rumors.
2. Mamajuana Recipe
It’s important to note there is no official standardized recipe for Mamajuana. Everybody makes their own. To be considered a Mamajuana, it doesn need to contain the three core ingredients below.
Mamajuana’s Ingredients:
Rum, Mamajuana spice mix (tree bark, herbs, spices), honey
Let the ingredients infuse in rum for a few months and voilà… you have Mamajuana. Some recipes also include wine.
The blend of tree bark, herbs, and spices used in Mamajuana is credited to the shamans of the native Taíno People.
These ingredients are said to have health benefits. When infused with alcohol (which extracts medicinal properties), Mamajuana is reported to have curative effects.
Mamajuana has been used as a cold and flu remedy, a digestive aid, and most famously, as a sexual stimulant (this has not been proven by scientific studies).
3. Types of Mamajuana
There are 2 types of Mamajuana:
- DIY Mamajuana: Dry Mamajuana sticks in a bag. Add rum and honey to your liking. Wait for 1–2 months until the concoction is ready. This is a typical souvenir you can buy in Dominican street markets. It usually looks like this:
2. Ready-to-drink:
4. How to Drink Mamajuana
The most common way to enjoy Mamajuana is to sip it neat/on the rocks or also as a shot.
- Rocks: our favorite way to drink Mamajuana. Tastes like spiced rum, but smoother and sweeter.
- Cocktails: most Mamajuanas will not mix well in your cocktail (the flavor can be too overpowering). Candela, on the other hand, was designed for cocktail-making. Try a Mojito, Daiquiri, Piña Colada, and Old Fashioned with Mamajuana. You will be surprised. For more Mamajuana cocktail recipes, visit Candela’s Cocktail Recipes page.
- Shots: a room-temperature shot is how most Dominican drink it. Your chest will feel nice and warm.
Want to learn more about Mamajuana? Check out the videos below:
One last thing…
If you enjoyed this article, please make it clap 👏👏👏 below to help others find it on Medium.
Sources:
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mama_Juana
Grub Street: http://www.grubstreet.com/2018/07/mamajuana-dominican-republic.html
Uncommon Caribbean https://www.uncommoncaribbean.com/dominican-republic/friday-happy-hour-mamajuana-the-taste-of-advenuture/
Candela Mamajuana: www.drinkcandela.com
Order Mamajuana Online: https://shop-candela.com/
