THE KENYAN COCKTAIL: DAWA

Over the weekend I went to see a friend of mine. He had some guests over and one of them happened to be visiting Kenya for the first time. Well he had heard of a cocktail that was well known in Kenya, "The Dawa cocktail". Frankly some people didn't know what that was. I have taken 'Dawa' in Java KMA branch but it did not have vodka. After searching in various websites, I discovered that most notes about this drink have been written by tourists who enjoyed the drink. I did not get any local website or blog that had this recipe.
'Dawa' means medicine in Swahili. Not only is is a healthy drink but it has been used by many communities to cure various ailments. If you have a common cold people treat it with lemon, honey and hot water.  It is one of the most requested cocktail in most tourist destinations like the Carnivore, Tribe hotel and Fairmont Mara. It is also very famous in Tanzania and Zanzibar. Most mixologists add vodka to make it more potent.
Here is how you can make it at home.

Ingredients
I tbsp sugar
2oz vodka
Lime
Honey
Ice
Wooden stick or lemon grass(For mixing and garnish)

Procedure
Put lime and sugar into a whiskey tumbler.
Crush the limes lightly, add ice then add Vodka.
Put the dawa stick in some honey and twist lightly.
Put the stick in the drink.
Use the stick to crush the limes.

Dawa from Fairmont, Mara

Nice. Authentic. Kenyan.
Enjoy...