From Zobo to Chapman: 20 Nigerian Drinks for Every Season
From Zobo to Chapman: 20 Nigerian Drinks for Every Season
Popular Nigerian drinks, from zobo, Chapman, kunu and tiger nut milk to malt, plus which drinks suit sunny days, rainy days and harmattan.
Nigerian drinks are part of the culture: the Chapman at a Lagos lounge, zobo at a naming ceremony, malt at a child’s birthday, kunu from a northern market. Here is a guide to the classics and when to drink them.
The classics
| Drink | What it is |
|---|---|
| Zobo | Hibiscus leaves boiled with ginger, cloves and pineapple, served cold |
| Chapman | Nigeria’s signature mocktail: Fanta, Sprite, Angostura bitters, grenadine, cucumber and lemon |
| Kunu zaki | Smooth, spiced millet or sorghum drink |
| Kunu aya (tiger nut milk) | Tiger nuts blended with dates and coconut |
| Kunu gyada | Groundnut and rice drink, served warm |
| Fura da nono | Millet balls in fermented milk |
| Koko | Spiced millet porridge, more of a drink in Ghana and the north |
| Ginger drink | Fresh ginger, lemon and sometimes pineapple |
| Malt drinks | Non-alcoholic, sweet malted barley drinks; Nigeria has several popular brands |
| Palm wine | Fresh palm sap, sweet when fresh and alcoholic as it ferments |
| Coconut water | Straight from the nut |
| Soursop juice | Creamy, tangy and tropical |
| Yoghurt drinks | Chilled and sweet, a street and supermarket favourite |
| Fresh fruit juices and smoothies | Pineapple, watermelon, orange, mango |
Chapman at home
- Fill a tall glass with ice, cucumber and lemon or orange slices.
- Add equal parts orange soda and lemon-lime soda.
- Add a few dashes of Angostura bitters and a splash of grenadine or blackcurrant cordial.
- Stir gently and serve.
Which drink for which weather?
| Weather | Reach for |
|---|---|
| Hot, sunny days | Zobo, Chapman, coconut water, tiger nut milk, watermelon juice |
| Rainy days | Kunu gyada, koko, ginger tea, hot chocolate |
| Harmattan (dry and dusty) | Warm ginger-lemon drink, plenty of water, soursop or orange juice |
| Any day | Malt, yoghurt drinks, fresh juice |
Abroad, winter is our new harmattan. Warm kunu or ginger tea on a cold evening hits differently.
Finding ingredients abroad: most African and international grocery stores carry these. Check our Tokunbo Directory for African-owned stores near you.
Over to you: What is your go-to drink at a Nigerian party? Tell us in the comments or share your story.
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