The Garden of Eden is in Africa
Beaches or mountains? Despite being an ubiquitous question on dating apps, this is not just your average ice breaker. Let me put it to you this way: would you prefer the shade of palm trees in the gentle warm breeze, soft sand beneath your feet, and the soft lapping of the waves, or serene snow tops, billowing wildflowers and a trickling stream flowing from ancient rock? There’s something to be said about natural vistas summoning deep emotions within us. It’s idyllic, it’s tranquil, it’s…paradise. And it just so happens, you can make your own.
Step 1 - Find the most glorious and harmonious piece of nature, big or small. You don’t need an entire mountain; I chose a few flowers and plants at Aburi gardens in Ghana.
Step 2 - Look at it. But like, really look at it. If you can (or if you dare) reach out and touch it. After a while, check in and ask, “What do I feel?”
There’s no right answer to this one, if anything, each of us would experience something unique. Looking at those flowers, I was simultaneously humbled and fascinated. What had been a family visit in Ghana had blossomed into a deep desire to connect with the land of my heritage.
Full disclosure: I’m no botanist. My passion is making drinks, and I’d never truly grasped how hard a plant works to bear its fruit, but I became enamoured with those flowers, obsessed with studying their makeup and history. The challenge was to find any which way to imbibe them, and from there how they taste. I tried my best not to be too dramatic, but here’s my verdict:
Africa is home to the greatest cocktail flavours yet to be discovered.
When you think about it, this is hardly a surprise: such a vast range of climates across the continent was certain to yield such wondrous botanical life. What is surprising is just how many talented and passionate individuals there are, farmers, distillers, an entire drinks community, whose dedication to their craft pushes the boundaries of flavour and pays homage to the land they call home. You could say these people work as tirelessly as their plants to cultivate the finest and rarest palate there is, the Adams and Eves to Africa’s Eden.
Such a labour of love deserves to be celebrated - and what better way than with a drink? Abura is the home of Africa’s best cocktails, with shelves stocked with every bottle and any ingredient from every corner of the continent. Every cocktail we share offers a symphony of flavour and culture, carefully crafted, like a curator selecting the artwork for their gallery.
I tip my hat to all those who came before me, whose hard work makes all the difference in every cocktail I create. I hope that each sip honours their story and builds a community to cherish the gifts of Africa’s garden.
