Sodabi facts for kids

Sodabi is a type of liquor made from distilled palm wine. It is popular in the majority of the West African nations., where it is often produced artisanal means in the villages. It is the West African equivalent to Tequila (Mexico), Raki (Eastern Europe), Vodka (Eastern Europe) but Sodabi has yet to be fully commercialised and promoted in the west.

Quality of the drink can vary widely based on the producer, as there is often little to no oversight on the production methods and final chemical content. According to French authorities, this is why the drink was banned throughout the colonial period. Colonial authorities were also concerned that consumption of the drink would hamper imports of European liquors. It is known by many names: koutoukou in Ivory Coast, Akpeteshie in Ghana or Ogogoro in Nigeria.

It is primarily drank neat in shot format but locals often keep a bottle of Sodabi with Herbs and Spices added into the Bottle to that the flavour , potency benefits can be fully released. It is drank for ceremonies, food, every day drinking to any occasion.

In Africa a litre of Sodabi often retails for between 2-3 dollars.

Commercial production

Today, several companies have started large scale production of the drink for export to other parts of the world.