Aphrodisiac cocktail challenge... Amen, Wobetu, Kpoo Keke, Freemason top league table

There is never a dull moment when it comes to the use of aphrodisiac drinks among the young and old.

From new-found partners to long-time lovers, everyone loves a little spice in the bedroom every now and then. It comes as little wonder the alcoholic beverage industry in Ghana keeps booming with various aphrodisiac concoctions accounting for the sustained growth recorded.

From the first-class hotels, to restaurants, to pubs and to the traditional blue kiosks in our neighbourhoods, there is always one particular aphrodisiac drink or two that draw the crowd.

And such drinks often come in fanciful sex-themed names, from the ludicrous to the downright absurd.

Yet, smart marketers always find ways to brand concoctions, many of untested and unproven efficacy but still pull the crowd on some phantom promise of making its patrons ‘beasts’ in the bedroom.

Sometime ago, brands such as Waist and Power, Force Landing, Pusher and Ginseng made waves among concoctions with aphrodisiac properties.

Then came ‘Atemuda’ (judgement day), an aphrodisiac drink which became the crowd puller for people who moved from far and near to its origination joint at East Legon, a suburb of Accra.

The drink took over Accra like a thunderstorm, creating heavy vehicular traffic within the East Legon enclave in the evenings as other commercial activities, including good-old prostitution, piggybacked on the crowd ‘Atemuda’ pulled.

Perhaps, it is this boom that threw a challenge to some of the leading breweries and distilleries to cash in on the craze for aphrodisiacs to create their own brands, such as the popular Alomo Bitters and its other variants, Origin Bitters and Adonko.

Interestingly, no sooner does one powerful drink with an intriguing name hit the market with a lot of promise than another competitor emerges with an outlandish name to dethrone it.

In recent times, patrons of these concoctions, including ladies, are seen partying hard and openly enjoying them at drinking bars and pubs.

The favourites include Digestive, Amen, Shocker, Pussy Monster, Five Fingers, Freemaison, AJ, Kpoo Keke, Ebetu and Wobetu.

Currently, at social gatherings such as funerals and parties, it is common to see people enjoying aphrodisiac cocktails made of herbs, roots and fruits such as tiger nuts, coconuts, dates, aloe vera, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger, chili, cloves, ‘prekese’, watermelons, lemons, honey, among others.

Some mix masters are so adept at making great cocktails with a base of liquor such as brandy, rum, whiskey or even local gin (akpeteshie). Some are laced with narcotics such as marijuana and other prescription ecstacy drugs. At social gatherings, these drinks are served on rocks (ice) or served very chilled to consumers.
The big question is, why the craze for aphrodisiacs and aphrodisiac cocktails lately?

At a funeral held recently at Banka in the Ashanti Region, this reporter came into contact with some young men making merry while enjoying a cream-like drink, which I later discovered was the ‘latest baby’ in town curiously branded ‘wo twe betu’, a profane term which, perhaps, serves as the pull factor for risque and inquisitive consumers.

Surprisingly, the drink was being sold by a nine-year-old girl and both men and women were seen buying a number of bottles from her to carry along to their destination.

An aphrodisiac is defined as a food or drug that arouses sexual instinct, brings on desire or increases sexual pleasure or performance.
Naturally, aphrodisiacs are a hot topic, as evinced by the countless number of pharmaceutical drugs available and marketed specifically for their libido-boosting effects.

Nii Lantei Addo, a cocktail expert and nutritionist who is often invited to private homes, parties and pubs to prepare his signature aphrodisiac cocktails, told The Mirror that the reason why the demand for such drinks kept increasing was that an aphrodisiac drink helped relax blood vessels and increased blood flow.

Touching on how some of the ingredients helped boost sex, Nii Lantei said an ingredient such as ginseng was known to help with erectile dysfunction, as well as improve arousal in women.

“Most of the local drinks contain this ingredient because of its efficacy in sex,” he said.

“Ingredients like chilli ginger have been known to increase the heat in the body, as well as heighten heart rate. Besides, the potent aromas of ginger are said to stimulate arousal as well,” he explained.

He added that ingredients such as cinnamon, nutmeg and honey were known for heating up the body, causing one’s libido to kick into overdrive.

“This savoury spice also contains various antioxidant properties. In India, nutmeg was used in the past as a treatment for low libido in men.

The sexy spice raises body heat, sweetens breath and acts as an all-round stimulant. This is why it is often used in brandy to get a good effect,” he said.

Claudia Asante, who loves some of these cocktails, admits she loves to drink those made with spicy ginger, tiger nuts, honey and mixed with any hard liquor as a base.

“Personally, it helps me when I have menstrual cramps and gives me a boost when the desire for sex with my partner is low,” she stated.

For most of the men interviewed, it was obvious the libido booster they derived from such aphrodisiac cocktails was enough motivation for them to be running after such drinks from far and near.

Sometime ago, The Mirror interviewed the Deputy Chief Executive of the Foods and Drugs Authority (Food Safety Division), Mr John Odame Darkwa, on these kind of aphrodisiacs.

He said many Ghanaians drank a lot of alcohol all in the name of aphrodisiac, adding that due to their desire for sex enhancers, a lot of people were being lured by commercials and good marketing practices into believing in those unfounded claims.

According to him, “The FDA holds a strong stand against the sale and advertisement of any form of aphrodisiac as we see it as a detriment to public health, but because we do not regulate advertisement of these products, it is quite difficult to control them.”