ExploFood around the world
Traditional drinks from around the world
74 dishes from 74 countries, grouped by continent.
Africa
- CucaAngolaPale lager brewed in Luanda, the country's best-known beer
- SodabiBeninStrong spirit distilled from palm wine
- DoloBurkina FasoHome-brewed sorghum or millet beer, cloudy and slightly sour
- Banana beerBurundiHome-brewed beer of fermented bananas and sorghum
- GrogueCape VerdeStrong sugarcane spirit distilled on the islands
- Palm wineCentral African RepublicMildly alcoholic, cloudy drink tapped from palm trees
- KarkanjiChadSweet hibiscus drink, sometimes spiced with ginger
- Palm wineDR CongoMildly alcoholic, cloudy drink tapped from palm trees
- UmcombotsiEswatiniThick, sour home-brewed beer from maize and sorghum
- WonjoGambiaSweet chilled drink of steeped hibiscus flowers
- GnamakoudjiGuineaSweet, fiery fresh ginger juice, often mixed with pineapple or lemon
- BissapGuinea-BissauSweet chilled drink of steeped hibiscus flowers
- JoalaLesothoThick, sour home-brewed beer made from sorghum and maize
- Ginger beerLiberiaHomemade fiery ginger drink, sweetened and served cold
- ThobwaMalawiSweet, thick non-alcoholic drink of fermented maize and millet
- DabileniMaliCold sweet drink of dried hibiscus flowers, often flavoured with mint or ginger
- Mauritanian teaMauritaniaStrong green tea with mint and sugar, poured high to make a foam
- AloudaMauritiusSweet cold milk drink with basil seeds, agar jelly and vanilla
- Mint teaMoroccoSweet green tea brewed with fresh spearmint and poured from a height
- LaurentinaMozambiqueLong-established Mozambican lager, in pale and dark versions
- FuraNigerMillet dough balls mashed into milk or yoghurt as a thick, cool drink
- Palm wineRepublic of the CongoMildly alcoholic, cloudy drink tapped from palm trees
- UrwagwaRwandaHome-brewed beer of fermented banana juice and sorghum, cloudy and mildly sour
- Palm wineSão Tomé and PríncipeMildly alcoholic, cloudy drink tapped from palm trees
- Café ToubaSenegalCoffee roasted with grains of Selim and sometimes clove, peppery and sweet
- Ginger beerSierra LeoneHomemade fiery ginger drink, sweet and very spicy
- KarkadehSudanDeep red infusion of dried hibiscus flowers, served hot or iced
- MunkoyoZambiaLightly fermented maize drink flavoured with munkoyo root
- MahewuZimbabweThick, lightly fermented non-alcoholic maize drink
Asia
- SujaBhutanSalty tea churned with butter
- Milk teaHong KongStrong black tea strained through cloth and mixed with evaporated milk
- Masala chaiIndiaBlack tea boiled with milk, sugar, ginger and cardamom
- KumysKazakhstanFermented mare's milk, sour, fizzy and mildly alcoholic
- KymyzKyrgyzstanFermented mare's milk, sour and lightly fizzy
- AiragMongoliaLightly alcoholic fermented mare's milk, slightly sour and fizzy
- Taedonggang beerNorth KoreaPale lager brewed in Pyongyang with equipment bought from an English brewery
- KahwaOmanLight coffee spiced with cardamom, served in small cups with dates
- KarakQatarStrong black tea boiled with evaporated milk, sugar and cardamom
- Arabic coffeeSaudi ArabiaLightly roasted coffee spiced with cardamom, served in tiny cups
- Bubble teaTaiwanSweet milk tea with chewy tapioca pearls, served cold
- ÇalTurkmenistanFermented camel milk, fizzy and sour
- Iced coffeeVietnamStrong drip coffee over ice with sweetened condensed milk
Europe
- RakiAlbaniaClear grape or plum brandy, often homemade
- KvassBelarusSlightly sour fermented drink made from rye bread
- MacchiatoKosovoEspresso topped with a cap of steamed milk foam
- Riga Black BalsamLatviaDark, bitter herbal liqueur sold in a black ceramic bottle
- KinnieMaltaBitter-orange and herb soft drink made in Malta
- RakijaMontenegroStrong fruit brandy, usually from grapes (loza) or plums
- KvassRussiaLightly fermented, slightly sour drink made from rye bread
- KofolaSlovakiaHerbal cola soft drink, less sweet than standard colas
North America
- MaubyBarbadosBittersweet drink brewed from tree bark and spices
- CaesarCanadaVodka cocktail with clamato juice, hot sauce and Worcestershire in a celery-salt rim
- MojitoCubaWhite rum, lime, sugar, mint and soda water
- SorrelDominicaDeep red drink brewed from sorrel (hibiscus) with ginger and spice
- MamajuanaDominican RepublicRum, red wine and honey steeped with tree bark and herbs
- HorchataEl SalvadorCold drink of ground morro seeds, rice and spices with milk or water
- Rum punchGrenadaRum mixed with lime, sugar syrup and bitters, topped with grated nutmeg
- AkasanHaitiThick warm drink of cornmeal, milk, cinnamon and vanilla
- HorchataHondurasSweet chilled drink made with rice and morro seeds, cinnamon and milk
- PitonSaint LuciaLight local lager brewed on the island and named after the twin Pitons
Oceania
- KavaFijiEarthy, mildly numbing drink of ground kava root mixed with water
- ToddyKiribatiCoconut palm sap, drunk fresh and sweet or left to ferment
- SakauMicronesiaThick, numbing kava drink pounded from pepper-plant roots
- Coconut waterNauruClear, cool water from young green coconuts
- Flat whiteNew ZealandEspresso with a thin layer of velvety steamed milk
- Koko SamoaSamoaHot drink of locally grown roasted cocoa beans, often sweetened
- 'OtaiTongaChilled drink of grated watermelon or mango with coconut milk and sugar
- KaleveTuvaluSweet sap tapped from coconut palms, drunk fresh or left to ferment
- KavaVanuatuEarthy, numbing drink made from the ground root of the kava plant
South America
- MateArgentinaBitter herbal infusion of yerba mate sipped through a metal straw
- ApiBoliviaThick hot drink of purple corn, cinnamon and clove
- TereréParaguayYerba mate infused in ice-cold water with herbs, sipped through a metal straw
- Pisco sourPeruCocktail of pisco grape brandy, lime, syrup, egg white and bitters
- MateUruguayBitter yerba mate tea sipped through a metal straw from a gourd
More food lists
Questions
Which countries have the most drinks on this list?
Montenegro (1), Albania (1) and Malta (1). Each country has up to five dishes in the Explo app, so this counts the ones that made its shortlist, not everything it cooks.
What drink should I try first?
Rakija in Montenegro, Raki in Albania, Kinnie in Malta and Iced coffee in Vietnam are good places to start: strong fruit brandy, usually from grapes (loza) or plums.
How reliable is this list?
The dishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app. Recipes and names vary by region and by family, so take it as a starting point.
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Get ExploDishes are hand-picked from general knowledge in the Explo app. Recipes and names vary by region.