If you are like me and never visited the Dominican or lived in a Dominican neighborhood, then you might have never heard about the Mama Juana drink. If you have heard about it, you might not know what it does or if it is as effective as the natives claim it is.
In this post, I will uncover the history of this drink, the benefits, the method of preparation, and if it is safe to consume. Let’s begin with the origin of this famous Dominican drink.
History of Mama Juana
Some locals call it the “Dominican Viagra,” “liquid viagra,” “the baby maker,” and all sorts. The names are all associated with the sexual prowess that the drink is believed to supply.
The history of Mama Juana dates back to the Taino people who were the inhabitants of the island of Hispaniola – which is today known as Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Mama Juana is considered one of the first spirits in America before the invention of rum.
In 1492, early Spanish explorers mixed alcohol with Tainos herbal tea, and they unwittingly created the legend of Mama Juana. The herbal tea was originally made by mixing different herbs and tree barks, boiling it, and serving as a hot tea for its health properties. The problem with the tea was that it tasted awful, and to make it easier on the tongue to ingest, people started mixing it with rum and wine, which is the alcoholic version known today as the Mama Juana. There are other versions of this drink today because different people have customized it to contain varying ingredients.
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During his dictatorship, Rafael Trujillo prohibited random people from selling the Mama Juana drink to reduce the number of production companies making the same drink — which might be harmful — allowing only people with a medical license to sell it. By doing so, Trujillo legitimized it as a medicinal elixir and placed it on the path to becoming the drink known to many Dominican locals as the National libation of the country.
By the early 1950s, it had become popularly known as the local herbal medicinal drink that also works as an aphrodisiac through Jesus Rodriguez, a native of San Juan de la Maguana. He would travel to Barahona, Azua, Pedernales, and other areas in the Dominican Republic to collect stems he would use in making the drinks. One of the potent ingredients he added for aphrodisiac potency is the Carne ce Carey (leatherback turtle meat) — some other people call it the sea turtle penis. Over the years, Rodriguez became known by the locals as Mama Juana.
Another popular local known in the 1950s that was associated with the Dominican Viagra drink was Porfirio Rubirosa, a Dominican polo player, race-car driver, secret agent, and playboy. He was famous for his rumored sexual prowess and likeness to the sea turtle.
The benefits of the Mamajuana
The Mamajuana drink was named after the English word Demijohn and from the French word Dame Jeanne (which means “Lady Jane”), referring to a large bottle with a narrow neck. The name is associated with its aphrodisiac properties, and the short form for “Mama do you wanna?”
What you should know about the Dominican liquid viagra
- Mama Juana is sold to visitors in Haiti and the Dominican Republic as a powerful aphrodisiac and obviously, you tend to see more men gravitating to try the drink.
- The potency of the drink will break down your inhibitions pretty fast if you need something to make you sleep or relax.
- Most of the claims on what the drink can do are based on tourist experience as there is no scientific backing to support the claim.
Aside from serving as an aphrodisiac, the Mama Juana drink is believed to possess various medical benefits depending on the roots used. Some of such benefits are:
- Increase in energy and vitality after consuming a glass of Mama Juana
- Better blood circulation in the body
- The honey content in the drink helps to relieve congestion and flu symptoms
- Serves as a tonic for the liver and kidneys
- It contains high antioxidants.
- It is said to cure diabetic issues and bring relief to joint aches.
- The drink mixture with cinnamon is believed to stabilize blood sugar.
Contents of the Mama Juana
The content of the Mama Juana is a mixture of various herbs, which is dependent on the region of Dominican and Haiti you get the roots from. People generally personalize the drinks to contain certain roots and items to their desired taste. The following herbs and tree barks can be used in making the Mama Juana drink:
- Anam·
- chamomile
- Anis Estrellado
- milkwort
- Bohuco Pega Palo
- Albahaca
- cinnamon
- Princess Vine
- chew stick
- Marabeli
- West Indian milk berry
- Whole Clove
- bay rum tree
- Agave leaves
- Rosewood
- Timacle (Chiococca alba)
- Water or alcohol
Aside from the content above, you can add other items like raisins, strawberries, Molasses, lemon, or lime juice to achieve your desired taste.
Method of preparation
After sourcing for the herbs and other ingredients you will want to be added to the mix, soak your bark and herb mix with dark rum of 20% alcohol or with red wine – in most cases, you can use a combination of both drinks. Leave the mix to soak for weeks because the longer it is left to soak, the more potent the drink becomes.
After several weeks of soaking, the liquid is ready to be served. You can add a few spoons of honey, fresh rum and wine, more cinnamon, and a vanilla stick to the drink before it is served. After emptying the liquid content of the bottle, you should take care in preserving the herbs and tree bark in the bottle as it can be refilled and used again to produce more bottles of Mama Juana.
There is a debate on how many times you can use the herb mixture, with some saying indefinitely, others believe ten years, while some say two to three uses is enough. You should bear in mind that the more times you soak the herbs in alcohol, the less bitter the drink tastes, and most likely, the less potent.
Consumption of the Mama Juana
There are three forms that you will find the Mama Juana, one is as the prepackaged dry ingredients which the buyer will have to macerate and cure, as a drink in a bottle with the herbs and barks ready to drink, or in the filtered liquid only bottle, ready to drink.
Due to the popularity of ready-to-drink brands, more mixologists are incorporating the Mama Juana into their drinks. More restaurants and bars are including the Mama Juana beverage recipe in their beverage menu.
Mama Juana is not only consumed in the Dominican Republic, and in recent years there has been a sharp increase in the demand for it internationally. With the introduction of commercial brands like Candela, Mama Juana can be purchased in Miami, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Spain, Chile, Peru, and Cuba.
When drinking the Mama Juana, ingest in small shots, and you should limit the number of shots you have because too much of the drink can lead to alcohol poisoning. Also, do not freeze it or add ice as it is best served at room temperature.
Is Mamajuana illegal in the US?
Although Mama Juana is legalized in the Dominican Republic, if you intend to visit the United States with it, you might run into a problem with customs. If you are traveling with dry ingredients like tree bark and herbs, customs officials may confiscate the items at the airport. If you have it in liquid form, you will be subject to alcohol importing restrictions of the customs office.
Is Mamajuana similar to Viagra?
In terms of the effect of Mama Juana on sexual prowess, there is no scientific evidence to back that up; what we have are stories told by the locals in the Dominican Republic or tourist who claim to have tried it. After taking the drink, the result is said to be instant, which is why some people refer to it as “Baby Maker” or El Para Palo, which means “lift the stick.”
As a result of this, most who order it at the bar receive a knowing wink from the bartender and good wishes for a successful night. It might be true that the drink works as an aphrodisiac, but that has not been medically tested.
Is it safe to drink Mamajuana?
If you live in areas or countries that are quite traditional, you will be used to consuming herbal drinks and all sorts of concoctions that claim to serve different purposes. These drinks are not harmful if taken in moderate proportion.
In conclusion, if you visit the Dominican Republic or decide to purchase a bottle or a shot of Mamajuana, remember that the drink is quite potent and should be consumed in minimal quantity.
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