Ambo water

Ingredients

The water

• Ambo mineral water, from the bottle

For a rough home approximation

• 1 litrecarbonated water, well chilled
• a very small pinch of fine salt
• a small pinch of bicarbonate of soda

Served with

• injera and wat
• raw meat dishes
• a glass of Ethiopian wine
• or on its own with ice

Directions

1. Check the label, since imitations exist. It is drunk cold but not iced in Ethiopia.
2. Use tiny amounts, since both are easy to overdo.
3. Stir them into cold carbonated water.
4. Let it stand for a minute before tasting. That is the honest limit of what can be done.
5. Keep bottles somewhere cool and out of the sun.
6. Chill them well before opening. Reseal the bottle tightly and keep it cold.

Technique

• The Ambo spring sits in a volcanically active part of the Ethiopian Rift, which is where the natural carbonation comes from.
• The brand has been bottled since 1930 and the name has passed into general Ethiopian use for any sparkling water.

Substitutions

• Any naturally sparkling mineral water is the nearest equivalent.
• Plain carbonated water is what most people will actually use.

Variations

• A flavoured range is now sold in Ethiopia alongside the plain water.
• Mixing it with wine or fruit juice is common in Addis cafes.
• Still Ethiopian bottled waters are sold under other brand names.

History

Bottled since 1930 from a carbonated spring west of Addis Ababa, and so common that Ethiopians call any fizzy water ambo.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ambo water?

Ambo water is a drink from Ethiopia: naturally sparkling mineral water from Ambo, drunk with meals. Bottled since 1930 from a carbonated spring west of Addis Ababa, and so common that Ethiopians call any fizzy water ambo.

How long does Ambo water take to make?

Ambo water takes none of preparation and none of cooking. The recipe makes one bottle. It is rated easy to make.

What can I substitute in Ambo water?

Yes, within limits. Any naturally sparkling mineral water is the nearest equivalent. Plain carbonated water is what most people will actually use.