Traditional Drinks

🇺🇬Uganda

Tonto

Ripe bananas ripened in a pit, pressed with spear grass and fermented with roasted sorghum into a cloudy, sour, low-alcohol beer.

🇧🇫Burkina Faso

Tounka

A Fulani millet-bran drink from Burkina Faso, lightly fermented and served cool.

🇰🇪Kenya

Uji

A Kenyan fermented porridge from millet, sorghum, or maize flour, a daily and breakfast classic

🇨🇱Araucanía, Chile

Ulpo

Traditional Mapuche drink made from toasted flour and water, smooth and nourishing, a sacred indigenous beverage.

🇺🇦Ukraine

Uzvar

Узвар

Uzvar is a Ukrainian compote brewed from dried apples, pears, plums, cherries, and raisins.

🇸🇦Saudi Arabia

Vimto

In Saudi Arabia, Vimto is a sweet fruit drink associated with Ramadan iftar and sold chilled or diluted for family gatherings.

🇹🇼Taiwan

Winter Melon Tea

冬瓜茶

Winter melon simmered with brown sugar into a dark block, dissolved in water and drunk cold — sweet, faintly caramel, and not tea at all.

🇨🇳Yunnan, China

Yunnan Fermented Rice Drink

甜白酒

A Yunnan sweet drink of fermented rice, sweet and faintly alcoholic, served cool.

🇿🇲Zambia

Zambian Spiced Drink

Chimodamotoka

Traditional Zambian spiced drink; a beverage made with local spices and sometimes fruit; refreshing and aromatic; served at gatherings and celebrations; a lesser-known traditional drink; the spiced refreshment of Zambia; served cold or warm depending on the season.

🇧🇫Burkina Faso

Zoom-Koom

A fermented millet flour drink with tamarind, ginger, and sugar; the name means 'flour water' in Mooré; the traditional welcome and hospitality drink of the Mossi and Dagara peoples.

🇹🇷Adana, Turkey

Şalgam

Şalgam Suyu

A bold, savory fermented drink made from purple carrots and bulgur, originating from the southern cities of Adana and Mersin. Deep red in color with a sour, salty flavor, şalgam comes in mild and spicy versions and is the traditional accompaniment to Adana kebab and fiery southeastern dishes.