Mama Juana

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This article is about the drink. For the band, see Mamajuana. For the energy drink, see MamaJuana Energy although the ingredients of this product are not the true and authentic ingredients of real mamajuana.

Mama Juana is a drink from the Dominican Republic that is concocted by allowing rum, red wine, and honey to soak in a bottle with tree bark and herbs^[1]. The taste is quite similar to port wine and the color is a deep red. It is seen and advertised as an aphrodisiac, with many natives of the Dominican Republic claiming that the drink has similar effects to Viagra.

Basically, Mama Juana is a mixture of bark and herbs left to soak in rum (most often dark rum but the use of white rum is not uncommon), red wine and honey. The solid ingredients (local leaves, sticks and roots) vary from region to region but usually include some of the following:

Anamú
Bohuco
Brasil
Canelilla
Caro
Marabeli
Clavo Dulce
Hoja de Maguey

In addition to the above standard recipe, it is common for individuals to add other ingredients such as cinnamon, raisins, molasses, and lemon or lime juice. The concoction is usually kept at room temperature and served in a shot glass. As with many other alcoholic drinks the longer the maker lets it sit the better it tastes.