The national drink of Dominican Republic is nothing like marijuana. I promise. It sure sounds like it, especially if youre speaking quickly, but dont get the two confused— marijuana is a medicinal drug and mama juana is a medicinal drink. The Dominican drink mamajuana has become well known in recent years, especiall yon TikTok.
Its become so closely associated with the countrys culture that there is even a Mamajuana Cafe in the Bronx, and several more such named restaurants across the northeast. In fact, below this is a mamajuana recipe, and quite likely the most straightforward one youll find.
So lets leave out the green stuff and just make some good mamajuana, the national drink of the DR. Coincidentally, it may still involve a few drugs of its own, though not in the traditional sense. Just taste it for yourself.
You do not need to refrigerate mamajuana, and many fans enjoy it chilled at room temperature.
About The Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic, often called the DR, is the land of sand and tropical forests and dembow. And rum. Lots of rum. It is a Caribbean island, after all. But its more than just a beach getaway; the DR has a long history dating back to indigenous Taíno peoples.
It also has heavy doses of Spanish and African cultural influence (depending upon the region). Like most of the Caribbean, the slave trade from Africa— and later from India— played a huge role in the islands cultural development.
This includes religion, dress, and cuisine, extending into beverages. Many Caribbean slaves were charged with working the sugar cane fields, the product of which (cane juice) was used in rum production, leading us to the modern good reputation of Caribbean rum.
That very rum has become the base of many popular local drinks, including mamajuana, the Dominican Republics national drink. To my surprise, after a visit to Punta Cana and Santo Domingo, I even left the island with my very own bag of historically-significant bark.
Its not your standard fertilizer, but a special mix of Dominican “aphrodisiac” bark & herbs, prepared in order to be stewed with local rum and Spanish wine and liquid honey.
That final product of this cultural marriage is called mamajuana, and its consumed rather frequently on the island, by tourists and locals alike. Now you can even make mama juana at home! One of the many beautiful Dominican beaches.
FAQ About Mama Juana Drink
This mamajuana recipe was originally published in 2016, and updated over the years with more information on how the beverage ages. Below are the most frequently-asked questions about mama juana that appear in my inbox!
Mamajuana is the national drink of the Dominican Republic, a Caribbean nation well-known for its rum production. The beverage is said to have been invented by the addition of modern rum to a medicinal elixir traditionally produced by the native peoples of the island, the Taínos. These days many families have their own recipes passed down generation-to generation, but all include some variation of herbs & spices with honey, red wine, and rum.
Jesus Rodriguez is said to have invented mama juana in the 1950s, during Rafael Trujillo dictatorship of the Dominican Republic. The elixir was already an amalgamation of European wine with traditional Dominican medicinal herbs, and with the addition of rum it was said to last forever… and help you do the same. Mamajuana was invented as an aphrodisiac, you see, but later embellished to also help cleanse the body of toxins and aid digestion.
Mamajuana is made from rum, red wine, honey, and a combination of bark & herbs & spices. Its generally agreed-upon that the mixture includes star anise, basil, anamú bark, and local cinnamon.
Most people use dark Dominican rum, but the best rum for mamajuana is a toss-up since you wont be able to tell the difference once its infused. As for brand, anything bottom-shelf, but not swill, should do just fine. I like Brugal or Bacardi since theyre easy to get and actually come from the Caribbean.
While there are no side effects from mamajuana (beyond the usual side effects of alcohol), the question of what mamajuana is used for mostly comes down to lore. Most people claim that mamajuana is good for putting & keeping you “in the mood,” i.e. an aphrodisiac (theres a reason they call it liquid viagra), but others say that itll help your digestion after a meal or even soothe the throat.
No. Theres also no reason why mama juana would be illegal in the US, as modern commercial blends of mamajuana herbs no longer include parts of the sea turtle which were previously added to “enhance” the aphrodisiac properties. Mamajuana is as dangerous as any other herbal liquor.
You can order prepared bottles of mama juana from liquor retailers throughout the country, and you can buy bottles of mamajuana botanicals in the US just straight off Etsy.
While this largely depends upon the botanicals used to make the mamajuana, batches Ive tried consistently resemble an herbal port wine, with some having a bit more of a kick than others, like a spiced rum with herbal tea & wine.
In a roundabout way, yes, mamajuana goes bad when all the alcohol evaporates. So while mama juana doesnt need to be refrigerated, a better question is how long is mamajuana good for? The answer is: roughly a decade or so, if kept in a cool, dry place.
Everything You Need to Know about Mamajuana Drink
FAQ
Do you have to refrigerate Mamajuana?
Can Mamajuana go bad?
What is the shelf life of Mamajuana?
How long can you reuse Mamajuana?