How To Make the Perfect Dawa cocktail

Dawa is and will always be a classic Kenyan cocktail. It comprises of a mixture of vodka, lime juice and honey garnished with a lime wheel and a ‘Dawa Stick’ to stir the honey. Commonly referred to as Dawa, which is derived from the Swahili word meaning “Medicine”, it makes for a refreshing cocktail that will cure whatever ails you.

Whether you are after a delicious sun downer, a refreshing drink on a hot afternoon, a drink after a tiring day, or a social drink, Dawa is the cocktail to drink. The simplicity of the ingredients in Dawa is surely going to make you feel better.

The recipe is based on a famous Brazilian drink that was introduced to Kenya. It is now one of the most widely consumed cocktails in Kenya and has spread throughout North and South Africa (especially in touristy regions). Enjoy!

Dawa Cocktail

Ingredients

2 oz vodka (We used Smirnoff Red)
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp tsp brown sugar 1 lime, quartered then cut into chunks, plus lime wheel garnish Ice
1 lime, cut into chunks, plus lime wheel garnish
Crushed ice

Method

• Into a rocks glass place lime chunks, honey and sugar.
• Muddle just enough to release the lime juice and mix with the honey and sugar, but not so much as to mash the pith (that will release a bitter flavour).
• Add some crushed ice, then the vodka and stir to combine ingredients and bring up the lime from the bottom of the glass. Add more ice until the glass is full, then garnish with a lime wheel.
• Serve and enjoy