Dawa

Dawa is a Kenyan cocktail that was allegedly inspired by Brazilian Caipirinha. It is a simple cocktail that combines vodka, honey, lime, and sugar. The cocktail is made by muddling limes and sugar in an old-fashioned glass. The combination is then topped with a shot of vodka and ice. The finished cocktail is traditionally served with a dawa stick—plastic or wooden stick dipped in Kenyan honey—which should be swirled in the glass. Dawa was invented at The Carnivore restaurant in Nairobi sometime in the 1980s, and it soon became a popular national cocktail.

As the combination is often lauded as an ideal drink for the Kenyan climate and a great food partner, it remains a favorite among locals and tourists. In Swahili, dawa means medicine.