Before now, there was a kind of reservation on consumption of alcoholic drinks laced with herbs, popularly known as 'Paraga' or 'Jedi', at least in some parts of the South-West region, perhaps because of our culture and tradition.
It wasn't something someone should be proud of taking in the broad daylight. But with time and based on research by some people in discovering the potency in our herbs, people started improving on it and it graduated from a roadside affair and be what high number of people consume on a daily basis.
It became so dignified that joints and shields started springing up at virtually all the nooks and cranny of every state. In fact, for it to be more enjoyable, the idea of taking herbal drinks with fried meat or seasoned ponmon also came up.
So it became more popular all over the country. Interestingly too, it was somehow believed that elderly people were the ones consuming herbs. Until it was funkified and being embraced by the youths. Especially when it potency have been confirmed as man power. Ever since then, there has been mad rush for herbs laced with alcoholic drinks, not only amongst the youths but also within some elites. That however was the situation until some people travelled to Ghana and discovered that what is been taking locally back home has been modified and well packaged in bottles with the name 'Alomo Bitters' and brought it into the country.
That of course was the genesis of a massive boom in the herbal drink business in Nigeria. This development also prompted Kasapreko, Ghana company and manufacturer of Alomo Bitters, introduce_various sizes of their products. Which later turned into a big competition amongst herbal drink makers in Nigeria. Even the Nigerian Breweries rose up to the challenge and came up with 'Orijin Bitters'. Then came the likes of Ogidiga, Osomo and many others.
Today, the herbal bitter business is experiencing a huge boom. In fact, some independent survey claimed the sector is worth over 40 billion naira. Nigeria market is been flooded with all kinds of herbal bitters and at times you can hear some funny names being given to these products. Like Baby Oku, Doro Webo, Nawode, Agbara, Koboko, Kogbebe, Skelewu, Doro Bucci, Iroko, Laliga, Baby Fire Dey Go. Osomo, Action Bitters, Fore Father.
The ones that are very prominent presently include Black Wood Bitters, Opa Eyin, Kick & Start, 1960, Orijin Silver and so many others. But what is the motive behind consumption of these alcoholic herbal bitters? Naturally, herbs, roots, leaves and barks have bitter content that are mostly used as tonic or to manage or treat digestive issues and that is what the likes of Yoyo Bitter, Ruzu, Ashetu , Oroki and some others stand for.
But in a situation whereby these herbs are being mixed with alcohol then they become source of man power or booster for men. Most young men use them as stimulant, to improve their sex life.
However, as efficient as some of these bitters could be, the danger in it is that while some of the manufacturers are duly registered with the regulatory body, National Agency for Food Drug and Control (NAFDAC), to determine the level of alcohol being added to the herbs or whether the best practises guiding production of such drink is being followed. So many of them are just producing illegally. In fact, some even carry fake NAFDAC numbers.
Dare Adeniran.
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