Ghana has a rich heritage of culture and a variety of ethnic groups and is renowned for its local drinks.
From refreshing drinks to healthy cocktails, the traditional drinks of Ghana give a distinct flavor to Ghana’s customs.
There is nothing more refreshing than a cool drink or a beverage when you are enjoying the hot Ghanaian climate. The kind of drink that is widely consumed in Ghana is different depending on the location.
In this post, we’ll discuss Ghana’s top 10 local drinks in Ghana, which you must taste. Let’s dive in and explore the wonderful world of Ghanaian drinks.
Top 10 Local Drinks in Ghana
1. Pito
Pito is a popular local drink in Ghana served at funerals and different gatherings. It is produced with fermented millet or sorghum. The drink is usually associated with Ghana, but it is also common in different parts of West Africa.
The grains are soaked and then milled and blended with water. Before serving, pito needs to be strained. The resulting drink is subtly sweet and slightly sour, starting from amber to darkish brown.
Pito is mostly served in a calabash, but it’s also frequently under the influence of alcohol from everyday cups. It can be served hot or chilled.
The drink is produced on a small scale, often in local areas. Pito is mainly enjoyed at social gatherings, and many reward it as a rich drink.
Want to know some quick benefits of Sobolo?
Pito carries important minerals such as Zinc, Magnesium, Calcium and Iron that are vital minerals for the body as well as bone development.
How is pito made in simple and easy steps?
- Bring guinea corn to the mill, where it will be ground into powder.
- In a large saucepan, place the guinea corn powdered in water. Stir it well.
- After the mash has settled, the water that is on top is eliminated.
- The remainder of the mash gets boiling.
- After the mixture has been boiled, pour it into a container and allow it to sit for 24 hours so that it can ferment.
- After fermentation is complete, you can boil the mixture once more.
- Strain the mixture to separate the liquid from the Mash.
- Clean the sediment out of the pito’s initial batch and then dry
- Serve pito in a glass over ice.
2. Sobolo
A trip to Ghana isn’t complete without trying the popular sobolo, which is a non-alcoholic beverage. It is consumed in almost all parts of Ghana. Bisaab has become a preferred drink of many and should be served at any time of the day. Don’t be afraid to ask the sobolo when you visit any place in Ghana.
Sobolo can be described as a refreshing beverage made in Ghana. It can be made using either flowers or roselle leaves, which are a species of hibiscus. The flowers or leaves are soaked in hot water, and when the water is red, it is squeezed and then left to cool. The flavor is described as a mix of both cranberry and grape juice.
Dry hibiscus leaves are simmered with ginger, cloves and many other local spices and herbs. A few people also add fruits such as apples and pineapples to give it an additional flavor before sweetening it by adding sugar.
Want to know some quick benefits of Sobolo?
- Lowers blood pressure
- Helps in weight loss
- Reduces cholesterol levels
- It is a rich source of vitamin C, which helps to fight certain diseases.
How is sobolo made in simple and easy steps?
- Clean and peel the pineapple as well as fresh ginger. Don’t throw away any pineapple skins. Cut the flesh of the pineapple into cubes.
- In a large pan, add the leaves of hibiscus.
- Add the water and then place the pan in a hot oven.
- Include the pineapple peels, as well as the hwentia and allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Switch off the flame and use a sieve or colander to separate the liquid away from cooked leaves and peeled leaves.
- Put the ginger and pineapple in a blender and mix until it is smooth. Blend the ingredients in the blender along with the boiled drink.
- Let the drink completely cool before adding the syrup made of pineapple and sugar.
- Refrigerate for a few hours, and add some ice cubes to the drink.
3. Lamugin
Do you want a cool drink to ease tension? Try Lamugine.
Lamugin is one of the best local drinks in Ghana that is made from rice and ginger. It’s extremely hot due to the large levels of Ginger and other hot spices. Like other local beverages listed, it can be enjoyed chilled and served with and without milk.
Lamugin is a delicious ginger drink that provides an icy and refreshing effect. It is perfect for hot summer daytime temperatures in Ghana. While it might resemble an alcoholic drink made of ginger, Lamugin is different because it’s mixed with other ingredients such as lemon, water and soaked cloves. This blend creates Lamugin, its distinctive flavor that makes it stand out from other drinks containing ginger.
You can serve at celebrations or even at home with your family. Lamugine is mostly popular within the Northern region of Ghana. But in recent years, it has become a preferred drink choice within the Southern part, too.
Want to know some quick benefits of the Lamugin?
1. Help treat indigestion
2. Reduce muscle soreness and pain.
3. Treat a variety of types of nausea
How is Lamugin made in simple and easy steps?
- Rinse the rice and soak it in water for a night to make it more soft.
- Next, pour the water off the rice and add it to the blender.
- Rinse the ginger, and then add it to the blender.
- You can include a sizable amount of water.
- Blend until you get an even mixture.
- Mix the ingredients thoroughly.
- Stir in the sugar.
- Pour the mixture into a container or jug and then refrigerate it
- Include Ice cubes
- Serve it chilled.
4. Brukina
Brukina is a drink of milk that is consumed by Ghanaians as a snack or as a complete meal. It is prepared with millet, fresh cow’s milk or milk powder, sugar, salt, and water. The millet used in Burkina includes manganese, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin B, as the milk is rich in Vitamin D, which makes it an excellent source of nutrition.
Due to the many ethnic groups, there’s absolutely no doubt that Ghana is blessed with many drinks, but the problem has been conservation and packing. In the beginning, steamed millet sugar beverages and cow milk were required to be taken from a bottle into bags made of polythene when one desired to drink Brukina.
Brukina is consumed by all kinds of backgrounds in Ghana, So why not give it a go when you visit Ghana?
Want to know some quick benefits of Burkina?
- The food is rich in Vitamins (B1, B1, B2, B3 and B6).
- A rich source of calcium. Calcium regulates the contraction of muscles and nerve conduction, as well as creating strong bones, etc.
How is Burkina made in simple and easy steps?
- Pour the millet in an ample pan.
- Rinse it off and allow it to soak for a night.
- Get rid of the water from the millet that is soaked.
- Blend it to create a rough or coarse texture.
- Grab a cup and put the millet in the sieve. Use your hands to vigorously roll over them until they become tiny balls.
- Pour the water into a cooker pot and set it on the stove or in a coal pot at the highest temperatures.
- When the water heats up, put the millet ball into the colander.
- Use some millet and water to make an extremely thick paste.
- Use the thick paste to cover the cooking pot and colander to stop the vapor from escaping.
- Close the colander and let the steam from the boiling hot water melt it.
- Change it over from time to the right time to ensure it’s evenly cooked.
- When the millet balls are soft and well cooked, put them into a basin and let it cool.
- After cooling after cooling, pour fresh milk over them and mix them well.
- Add sugar according to your preference.
- Include ice cubes to keep it cool.
- Mix and serve cold.
5. Ice Kenkey
This drink can be made using Ghanaian traditional Kenkey, sugar, Ice, and the alternative of peanuts and milk. It is refrigerated to make the drink in Ghana called an iced kenkey. Give it a go during the hot summer when you’re looking for something refreshing to satiate your cravings.
The Ice Kenkey smoothie is Ghana’s preferred local smoothie or shake. It is made by mixing the Kenkey drink with sugar, water, powdered milk, and the addition of ice.
Ice Kenkey is a local probiotic smoothie made with the well-known Ghanaian dish known as Kenkey. Kenkey can be one of two varieties. Fante or Ga is blended with sugar, water, powdered milk, and the addition of ice to make this delicious drink. It can be served with peanuts for extra flavor and texture.
Want to know some quick benefits of Ice Kenkey?
- You’ll experience longer-lasting fullness.
- Excellent source of energy
- Keeps you looking younger
- Aids in preventing constipation
How is Ice Kenkey made in simple and easy steps?
- Slice the kenkey into pieces and place them in an empty bowl.
- Put the pieces of kenkey in the blender. Blend in natural yogurt.
- Add chilled water, some sugar and milk. Mix until a smooth and runny consistency is reached. Cover the blender by putting it on its lid.
- Pour ice Kenkey into an empty bottle or bowl.
- Serve it right away or freeze it until it cools.
6. Local Asaana Drink
Asaana is a very popular local drink in Ghana. It is fermented quickly, and the wine is then used to distill akpeteshie (an indigenous gin).
Asaana is a local non-alcoholic drink that is popularly caramelized and is made of fermented corn and sweetened sugar that is produced within Ghana and has a pleasant flavor. It is also known as lemony by other regions of Ghana and is known in many nations as a corn beer drink.
Want to know some quick benefits of Asaana?
- Assists in the prevention of heart problems.
- Lowers blood pressure and can cause neural tube defects in the neural tube at birth.
- Protects against hemorrhoids, constipation and colorectal cancer
- It also prevents anemia from occurring.
How is Asaana made in simple and easy steps?
1. Soak the corn in water for three days to allow it to ferment.
2. Cook the corn that has been fermented at the top of the hub for around 30 to 45 minutes.
3. Put sugar in a pot and heat it up until it’s nearly burning.
4. Separate the boiling corn before pouring it into the sugar in the pan.
5. Use a muslin or strainer to separate the chaff.
6. Before putting it in the fridge, let it cool.
7. Serve with milk
7. Atadwe
Atadwe is a non-alcoholic local drink in Ghana. It is made from a nut in Ghana called tiger nuts. It offers a variety of advantages to your body. Tiger nuts are a popular food in Ghana because of their aphrodisiac qualities.
Atadwe is a nutrient-rich ingredient used to make an easy, sweet dessert that is popular in Ghana. Blended rice, also known as rice flour, is blended with tiger nut milk that is gathered from the nuts to create a healthy and delicious dessert.
Last but not least, atadwe is a tiger nut-based pudding that was created in Ghana with rice blended or rice flour as well as the tiger’s nut milk gathered in the nut. It’s a light dessert that is perfect for hot meals.
This dessert is typically served with hot meals and works well with them.
Want to know some quick benefits of Atadwe?
- Helps boost your immune system.
- Preventing infections and promoting wound healing
- Assists your body in absorbing the calcium and phosphorus required to build strong bones.
- Protect important organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys.
How is Atadwe made in simple and easy steps?
- Combine water, tiger nuts and rice and blend it in the food processor or in an extremely powerful blender
- Then, strain through a fine-mesh strainer to separate the milk. Add more water and blend once more to extract the milk.
- Make use of the silk scarf or cheesecloth, place it on top of the strainer, and give it a final squeeze to capture any chaff.
- Incorporate the brown sugar or caramelized sugar syrup as well as salt. Give it a vigorous stirring
- In a medium temperature, it is best to use a whisk spatula made of rubber to stir the mixture continuously in the same direction.
- Stir constantly until thickened and no longer sour. Remove the heat.
- Pour the mixture into the glass of a serving vessel to cool.
- Serve it cold or warm and with evaporated milk or not.
8. Palm wine
A booze known by the name of “palm wine” is derived from the sap of various varieties from palm trees. The young boys of the nearby villages are referred to as “tappers” who climb to the highest parts of the plant to collect the sap. Then, it is removed from the plant. The airborne yeast allows the plant to react with the sap after it has been collected.
To remove this sap from a fallen tree’s trunk, a small flame is put into the trunk of the tree. The sap is then gathered in containers. Once the sap is white and flows out of the jars, it begins to ferment. It has the exact amount of alcohol that is typical for beers; palm wine requires two hours to make its alcohol component. Palm Wine is among the oldest local drinks in Ghana.
Palm wine is typically consumed during celebrations and social gatherings.The method of collecting palm wine and its consumption is an integral part of Ghanaian customs and contributes to the richness of culture in Ghana.
Want to know some quick benefits of palm wine?
- Boosts Immune System
- Promotes Liver Health
- Relieves Stress
- Prevents Anemia
- Regulates Blood Sugar
- Boosts Energy
How is palm wine made in simple and easy steps?
- Put some ice in a clean glass.
- Pour the palm wine on the ice.
- Serve with fresh berries and orange slices.
9. Solom Drink
Solom drink is well-known within the Volta Region of Ghana. It is made from red millet that has been fermented. The red millet is mixed with water and left to boil for around 10 minutes. Then, it’s let to cool before sugar is added according to the taste. It is then sold chilled with the help of blocks of ice.
It is consumed as a refreshing drink in both urban and rural areas. Serving solom along with other drinks made of cereal in Africa to guests is considered to be a sign of welcome and hospitality.
Want to know some quick benefits of solom?
- Aids patients with diabetes control their sugar levels.
- Reduces menstrual cramps
- Can help to keep your blood pressure under control
10. Ginger drink
Ginger drink is a common drink in Accra. The majority of individuals who do not identify as Muslims in Ghana refer to it as lamurgee. It is brownish in appearance and tastes smoky.
Local beverages are consumed with snacks or savories. There is also the option of enjoying certain beverages elsewhere in West Africa.
Want to know some quick benefits of Ginger drink?
- Boosts serotonin and dopamine levels
- Decrease inflammation, which could trigger depression.
- Offer benefits to anxiety sufferers.
- Can be treated for motion sickness.
How is Ginger drink made in simple and easy steps?
- First, clean the ginger placed in a blender along with the water.
- Mix until it is smooth.
- Pour the ginger juice by straining it through a cheesecloth or a sieve.
- Transfer to a glass jug and include the lemon juice, maple syrup, and black pepper. Add the chia seeds.
- Mix until it is all combined.
Top 5 Alcoholic Drinks in Ghana
1. Savanna Dry
Savanna Dry is produced in South Africa’s affluent Elgin Valley from crushed apples, which are grown in the valley. It is also said to be a drink for ladies in Ghana because it is mainly consumed by women. Savanna Dry is gaining popularity with both tourists and locals.
2. Kasapereko Alomo Bitters
Kasapereko is a very popular alcoholic local drink in Ghana. Alomo Bitters, which have their roots in Ghana, are made using extracts of carefully selected tropical plants, which are an integral part of a recipe that is proprietary to the company. It’s well-known for its aphrodisiac quality.
3. Akpeteshie
Akpeteshie is a locally produced spirit that is regarded by the name of Ghana’s National Spirit. In other regions of West Africa, such as Nigeria, which is an Urhobo word that is typically made locally from fermented Raffia palm juice. Akpeteshie is extremely strong and is best consumed with caution.
It is a strong alcoholic beverage (stronger than whisky!). Most often, it is referred to as the official spirit in Ghana. Akpeteshie is a powerful alcoholic drink and is frequently called the Ghanaian national drink. It is produced by distilling sugar cane or palm wine and results in a smoky and numbing drink.
4. Heineken
Heineken is an all-bodied lager beer with a deep golden hue, a slightly bitter taste, and a well-balanced hop aroma that leaves a fresh and refreshing taste. Heineken Lager contains just three essential ingredients.
Malted barley, water, and hop extracts. That’s it. It is a vital component of the beer-making process. Heineken’s A-type natural Yeast is the key ingredient in making the Heineken you are familiar with and enjoy.
It is among the top alcoholic drinks in Ghana and all over the world, too. Heineken is available everywhere throughout Ghana.
5. Gulder Beer
Gulder beer is one of the most popular beers in Ghana. It is a premium, extremely delicious beer that is modified to meet international standards.
It is one of the well-loved alcohol-based beverages within Ghana, which is made using the sap of a variety of palm trees. It is renowned for its distinctive taste and importance to culture.
High-quality barley, premium hops, and clean water are used during the brewing process of Gulder to provide customers with fresh taste and total pleasure.
FAQ
Are Locally-made drinks in Ghana worth trying?
Definitely! Local drinks made in Ghana are worth trying. Ghana have drinks that are local and unique to their tribes. They include spirits, milk/porridge and even juice.
Despite the increased consumption of foreign drinks, Ghanaians are still known to be a fan of their local drink, particularly because of the high concentrations of nutrients found in the majority of beverages.
The majority of these drink choices stand out for being pure local drinks. This list was created due to their uniqueness and popularity among the majority of Ghanaians.
What are some traditional drinks in Ghana?
- Sobolo
- Asaana
- Lamugin
- Pito
- Ice Kenkey
- Palm wine
- Atadwe Milk Drink
- Brukina
How is palm wine made in Ghana?
When they reach the crown of the tree, the tappers introduce a tube, which slowly drains the sap into a calabash or keg, which is secured to the tree. After about a half-day, the tapper for palm wine returns to take the sap. The sap starts to ferment once it is removed from the plant, which is triggered by yeasts. The longer it takes, the more alcoholic it gets.
Are there any alcoholic beverages unique to Ghana?
There are some alcoholic beverages unique to Ghana:
- Club Beer
- Smirnoff Ice
- Savanna Dry
- Star Beer
- Guinness Beer
- Kasapereko Alomo Bitters
What is Sobolo, and how is it prepared?
Sobolo, also referred to as hibiscus, is extensively used in modern times as a mild but natural diuretic. It is a healthy and delicious beverage made by removing Hibiscus flowers. The beverage is popular across Africa as well as around the world.
How to prepare Sobolo:
- Soak the leaves for a night in a large bowl
- Boil for about 10 minutes, then let it cool for around an hour.
- Mix the spices and mix it with boiling leaves.
- Sift the mixture and add the desired amount of sugar and flavor. Let it cool before refrigerating.
- You can mix pineapple with the other fruit you like to improve the flavor
- Cut some apple slices or slices of orange rind into the sobolo to garnish it. You can use cucumber.
Can you explain the process of making Akpeteshie (local gin) in Ghana?
Akpeteshie is produced by the distillation of the end product of microbial fermentation, which is carried out on a variety of substrates. The most well-known substrates are palm wine, sugarcane, and a mixture of sugar, water, and yeast.
What are some non-alcoholic Ghanaian beverages?
- Sobolo
- Pina Colada
- Minty mango
- Mango Colada
- Stained pineapple
Are there any health benefits associated with Ghanaian local drinks?
- Assists in preventing heart problems as well as reducing blood pressure.
- Plays a crucial role in preventing digestive disorders such as hemorrhoids, constipation, and colorectal cancer.
- The antioxidants in corn are also anti-carcinogenic substances and help prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
- Provides minerals like zinc and iron and is vital to maintaining healthy bone growth and proper kidney function.
- Helps prevent anemia that is caused by the deficiency of vitamins. It also reduces LDL cholesterol.
What is the significance of local drinks in Ghanaian culture?
The Ghanaian industry of food and drinks has played significant roles in contributing not only to the overall nutritional needs of Ghanaians but also to the overall development of the Ghanaian economy.
In addition to the fiscal impact of the industry on Ghana’s economy, beverages and food are frequently central to all Ghanaian celebrations, offering refreshments and quenching the thirst of many millions of Ghanaians of all different ages.
Local beverages do not just provide vital hydration but also provide other nutrients. In addition to energy, some drinks are a good source of minerals and vitamins, as well as protein, fats, and various other carbohydrates.
Are there any popular festivals or occasions where these drinks are commonly consumed in Ghana?
Drinks and food are essential in Ghanaian tradition. From joyful occasions to sorrowful occasions, food and drinks are used to create symbolic declarations and perform customary rites.
There are some popular festivals or occasions where these drinks are commonly consumed in Ghana:
- Abokyir
- Oguaa Fetu Afahye
- Bontungu
- Homowo
Final words: Local Drinks in Ghana!!
There you go, the best 10 local drinks in Ghana.
No matter if you’re visiting or a local, getting to know the local beverages in Ghana is an essential way to fully experience Ghana’s diverse food traditions.
From refreshing drinks like Brukina or Sobolo as well as traditional drinks such as Pito as well as Palm Wine, each drink is unique in its importance and flavor.
In the end, Ghana offers a wide variety of drinks from the local market that reflect the country’s cultural variety and distinctive tastes.
Also, be sure to test these top 10 Ghanaian drinks during your trip to Ghana and enjoy the tastes of this stunning country.
