Caribbean spiced rums aren’t particularly exotic — there’s hardly
a bar in America where you can’t order a “Captain and Coke,” for example. But
there’s one unique variety of Caribbean spiced rum that you may not have heard
of, even though its origins date back more than 800 years: Mamajuana.

As originally made by the native Taino people, mamajuana (or Mama Juana) was prepared as a tea with a mix of herbs, tree bark, and — if legends hold true, the private parts of a turtle.

The latter is important because all through its long history,
mamajuana has been touted as an aphrodisiac (its local nickname is ”the baby
maker”) as well as for its medicinal qualities, such as improved digestion and
blood circulation.

The recipe for mamajuana endured even long after the Taino
disappeared from the Caribbean, decimated first by the rival Arawaks and then
enslavement and disease brought by Europeans. The latter added spirits and red
wine to the recipe, and gave the concoction its modern name (which comes from a
nickname for the type of squat, wicker-covered bottle the drink was
traditionally stored in).

Today, mamajuana is considered the national drink of the
Dominican Republic, although until recently you were more likely to find it
served at a local bar than at a Caribbean beach resort.

Mamajuana also has endured as a variety of the “bush rum” found
throughout the Caribbean, especially on islands with a strong Latin influence.

For example, on St. Croix, which has strong cultural connections
to Puerto Rico, tourists may flock to the Mount Pellier Domino Club to feed
cheap beer to the resident pigs, but savvier visitors know the superior
attraction is sipping owner Norma George’s homemade mamajuana.

Never made exactly the same way twice, mamajuana retains its air
of mystery, but in recent years it also has begun to show up on liquor store
shelves, with somewhat more refined versions produced under brands like Candela
and Kalembu.

Candela mamajuana, available in the Dominican Republic as well as more than a half-dozen U.S. states, is marketed as a premium product: a 750-mi bottle sells for $25-$35.

Alejandro Russo, Candela’s founder and CEO, says the spirit starts with aged Dominican rum distilled directly from sugar cane juice. Spices and organic honey are added next, and the blend is then aged again in American white oak barrels.

The complete ingredient list for Candela (the name alludes to the Spanish idiom for “sexy” or “too hot to handle”) is a secret — but rest assured, turtle is not an ingredient in the mix.

Also missing is the red wine traditionally used in mamajuana, but Candela does include the main traditional herbs used by the Tainos, including Bohuco Pega Palo, Clavo Dulce, Anamú, Palo Brazil, and Maguey leaves.

“Everything is as authentic and natural as you can find,” Russo said.

Mamajuana can be sipped neat, on the rocks, or used in cocktails.
Different drinkers will experience different flavor notes, but I found Candela’s mamajuana to have a taste reminiscent
of root beer or birch beer, and — bottled at 60 proof — a smooth finish.

Resort bartenders in the Dominican Republic have used mamajuana
in place of rum to make mojitos, Pina coladas, and daiquiris, for example, and
the Cuprum Miami bar at South Beach’s Beach Plaza Hotel uses Candela as the
base for a variation of the Negroni cocktail.

Russo himself prefers a mamajuana Old Fashioned.

“Even though people in the Dominican Republic often drink it for its medicinal properties, we focus on its mixology aspects,” he said.

Like a lot of people, Russo — a native of Chile, not the
Dominican Republic — first encountered mamajuana on vacation.

“I was at the Bavaro Palace in Punta Cana and everyone was
drinking this stuff,” he remembered. “I met a good group of friends at the pool
bar and it turned out to be a wild night. I went to the bartender the next day
and asked him, ‘What was that?’ And he flexed his arm and told me, ‘This is
‘Dominican Viagra.’”

Hooked, Russo searched in vain for mamajuana to take home from
his trip, “but I could only find it in DIY form” — bottles filled with herbs
but requiring buyers to add their own spirits, wine, and sweetener. Despite
having no background in the spirits business, he left determined to bring his
new, favorite drink to a wider audience.

“I loved the taste, how it made me feel, and it is very cool
culturally,” said Russo. “Mamajuana is to the Dominican Republic what tequila
is to Mexico. Latin people have a certain ‘spice,’ and Candela really embodies
Latin culture.”

Mamajuana Cocktails from Candela

Sugar Daddy, the Dominican Old-Fashioned

3 oz mamajuana

1 tbsp brown
sugar

Dash of Bitters

Garnish with orange twist

Mijita, The Sexy Mojito

3 oz mamajuana

1 tbsp sugar

5 fresh mint leaves

2 lime wedges

Muddle all together, top with soda water.

Huracán

3 oz mamajuana

1 oz orange juice

1 oz pineapple juice

1 oz passion fruit juice

Spicy Mama

3 oz mamajuana

2 oz fresh lemon juice

1 oz jalapeño-infused simple syrup

Footnote: Mamajuana has always been a do-it-yourself kind of
drink, so feel free to add some red wine to Candela mamajuana if you want to
experience the more traditional flavor of what some have called “Dominican
sangria.”

The post Rediscovering Mamajuana, the Legendary Drink of the Dominican Republic appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Continuing a new trend in the aviation industry, American Airlines has announced that it will be requiring all flyers to wear face coverings or masks on their flights. 

The move will take effect on May 11, according to a statement from the world’s largest airline. 

The move is part of what American Airlines called an “ongoing commitment to prioritizing customer and team member well-being in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.”

The coverings can range from homemade cloth face coverings to surgical or other masks. 

“The American Airlines team continues to prioritize the safety of our customers and team members, and requiring a face covering is one more way we can protect those on our aircraft,” said Kurt Stache, Senior Vice President of Customer Experience. “We ask customers to bring their own masks or face coverings they’re comfortable with when they travel. American is working to procure face masks and hand sanitizer as a supplement.”

— CJ

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The island of Anguilla has removed all regulations restricting movement and gatherings, following a declaration that there are “no active or suspected cases” of COVID-19 in the destination.

The decision comes after Anguilla’s Chief Medical Officer told the island’s Executive Council that the restrictions could be “safely removed.”

Crucially, Anguilla’s ports will remain closed for passenger movements “until the situation outside Anguilla allows for the safe reopening to external traffic,” according to a statement. 

The lifting of restrictions means churches, places of worship, retail stores, hair salons and barber shops, accommodation suppliers, gyms and spas, recreational facilities and restaurants and bars can reopen. 

The move took effect on April 29. 

“No definitive date has yet been set, but it is unlikely to be before the end of May,” Anguilla’s government said. “A limited number of repatriation flights for foreign nationals will take place this week. These flights – all of which have been formally requested by overseas governments – will take place under the same controlled arrangements as those previously implemented. All aircraft will arrive empty, with the aircrew remaining on board so avoiding any contact with ground staff.”

Anguilla Governor Tim Foy and Premier Victor Banks also stressed vigilance, urging residents to “take the simple steps that can save lives,” from washing hands frequently to covering coughs and sneezes and the like. 

Officials also said that “illegal boat landings” represented the greatest threat to the island’s health and security, and that they would focus on protecting Anguilla from illegal entry as a “top priority.”

“Coordinated land, sea and air patrols remain in place, and anyone attempting or assisting an illegal crossing will be arrested,” the government said. 

“The Governor and Premier thanked Anguillians for their support in following the restrictions while they were in place, and in bringing about this great achievement,” a spokesperson for the destination said. “They also cautioned against becoming complacent and asked that everyone continue to practice social distancing.  Environmental health officials in Anguilla will be visiting all commercial premises in the coming weeks to check compliance with established environmental health regulations, bearing in mind the importance of good basic hygiene in preventing the spread of all infectious diseases.”

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