Bottles of BABA Roots, apparently the most popular of the roots drinks on the market. Roots tonics have long been staples in the Jamaican grassroots culture, with wild claims of the many ills the drink can cure, and significantly, about its ability to enhance sexual performance. Many Jamaicans swear by their roots tonic, but a medical doctor, while acknowledging some positive uses, cautions against wanton use of roots that have not been researched for their effect on human bodies.
Other roots drinks that are available across the island.
“Roots do have chemicals in them. Until we can ascertain what is really in those roots we can’t declare them safe,” argues Dr Audley Betton, a general practitioner. “Too much of one thing is good for nothing. For example, too much ginger thins out the blood, and if one should have an emergency operation he would overbleed,” Betton advises.
But Falmouth resident Barrington Sawyers, who has been drinking BABA Roots for over a year now, attests: “It is a real tonic. It strengthen yuh body. It give yuh energy, sexual energy. It give yuh more stamina like a ‘Duracell’ (battery) to go on and on.” His sentiments were echoed by Antoinette Stephens, who works as an office attendant in Montego Bay. “The BABA Roots nice, man. It taste good. It give yuh energy and stamina. We do need little roots sometimes inna wi body,” says Stephens, who has also been drinking the roots for over a year.
The roots that are said to go into making the tonics carry a range of exotic names including chainy roots, sarsaparilla, tan pan rock, hug mi tight, search mi heart, dandelion, jacky mi saddle, blood wist, snake wist, raw moon, baceda park, coconut roots, banana roots, pimento bark and medena. Although BABA Roots seems to be the most popular brand on the market, others, such as Zion Organic Roots Drink, Pump It Up, Allman Strength and The Priestly Order Roots Wine, all appear to enjoy good patronage.
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January 7, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Miguel
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