If you’ve ever visited Uganda, you might have seen something really interesting: locals walking around with a dark-brown drink in a plastic bag. This cool drink is called Omunanansi, a traditional Ugandan pineapple drink that many people love, I included.
Omunanansi isn’t just any drink; it’s a tasty mix that usually blends the sweet and tangy taste of ripe pineapples with the spicy kick of ginger and the fragrant flavor of tea leaves. This special combination creates a refreshing drink that balances all the flavors, making it a favorite for both locals and tourists.
Making Omunanansi is like an art form, often using fresh, juicy pineapples that are punched and beaten for their juice and mixed with ginger, which adds a spicy flavor and is good for your health. The tea leaves give it an extra taste, adding a subtle earthy flavor that makes it even better. Many people like to drink it cold, especially in the hot Ugandan weather, making it a great choice for casual walks.
Ingredients Used for Omunanansi
- 1 Pineapple
- 3 l Water
- 200 g Ginger
- 20 g Rwenzori Tea Leaves (Green Tea)
- Sugar
Instructions for cooking the drink
- Smash the pineapple with a hard object until it softens, and break it into small chunks.
- Add the water and the chunks of pineapple in a large pot, and turn on the heat to high. Let it heat until it begins to boil.
- Smash the ginger into smaller pieces and add it to the water-pineapple mix
- After another five minutes of boiling, stir in the tea leaves. 20g is plenty for rwenzori tea, add and stir the mixture until it turns brown or dark brown. Let it boil for another 30 minutes, and then turn off the heat.
- Allow it to rest until it cools. Use a siw to remove the chunks of pineapple and ginger and stir while adding the desired amount of sugar. Place it in the refrigerator or freezer until it is cold, then serve. For a better taste, leave it in the fridge over night.