The "They came, bearing gifts of ....... Mamajuana!" Story

It was an ordinary day. Our friends from State College, Jerry and Just Sue have arrived bearing gifts from their latest trip to the Dominica Republic. Mamajuana!! Did you read that correctly? Nothing illegal, allegedly. Had to open the decorative bottle and take a smell as soon as Sue handed it to me. I immediately smelled cedar wood. Since we were heading to the Chesapeake Bay the following morning for a day of sightseeing, I passed on giving it an immediate try. I enjoy the flavored rum that I get on St. Martin, but that had a flavorful aroma to it, much different than the mamajuana. It seems that anywhere you travel in the world, each country has its own native drink. Mamajuana is a drink that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs. Taste is supposed to be quite similar to port wine and the color is a deep red. Rumored to be an aphrodisiac or the Dominican version on Viagra. It is also used for its medicinal value, especially as a flu remedy, digestion and circulation aid, blood cleanser, kidney and liver tonic, and to treat prostate and ovarian disorders. The bottle that I was holding DID NOT have the FDA label on it! The name, mamajuana, comes from the English word Demijohn, which refers to a large squat bottle with a short narrow neck, usually covered in wicker. Since the name refers to the container that holds the brew, rather than the brew itself, the recipe for the mamajuana varies from one maker to the next. Some brewers add, in addition to the rum, red wine, honey, tree bark and herbs, things such as cinnamon, raisins, molasses, and lemon or lime juice. The result is generally 40% proof or 20% alcohol. Well, the time has come for us to sample the concoction. Got out our decorated shot glasses and poured a small sample into each glass. You see, I was making Jerry and Just Sue drink a sample with us. OK, down the hatch. Wow! Pretty smooth. Tasted like cedar! It certainly was a deep red color. I waited and waited to see what it would do to me, but all it did was make me sleepy. The next morning I felt some of the results. Cleaned out the digestive tract pretty good! Not sure when I'll have more, but if you're in the neighborhood and want a taste, knock on the door. It was another extraordinary day in the life an ordinary guy.