Mamajuana

Dubbed as the national drink of the Dominican Republic, mamajuana (Mama Juana) is a herbaceous, full-bodied, and spiced alcoholic drink made with rum. It was initially invented as a medicinal tea that was often lauded as a libido booster.

The beverage has ancient origins, and it was probably created by the native Taíno people. Original versions were was later laced with alcohol to create modern interpretations of the drink. Despite numerous variations, the base is usually made with rum, red wine, and honey, while the additions include a variety of botanicals and tree bark.

Often, herb blends are sold separately and are then macerated in alcohol. There are also several refined versions, which are already filtered and bottled, available on the market. Mamajuana is usually enjoyed neat, but it also works well as a cocktail ingredient.

The origin of its unusual name is not entirely clear. The most common explanation says that it is a complicated derivation from the French dame-jeanne—a type of a glass container known as demijohn or carboy.