Rum infused with the bark of Richeria grandis, harvested in Dominica’s rainforest and sold at markets and by roadside vendors as a strengthening aphrodisiac tonic. Bottles usually hold whole pieces of bark still steeping.
The base is a distilled spirit, the bark is harvested from a wild rainforest tree under pressure from that harvest, and the traditional claims for it are not supported by evidence — this is a page about a thing people drink, not an endorsement of it.
What goes into it
- Richeria grandis bark
- white rum
- sometimes spices, honey or other barks
How it is made
Strips of bark are cut from the tree and steeped in rum for weeks until the spirit turns reddish-brown. It is sold with the bark left in the bottle and topped up with more rum as it is drunk.
How long it takes: weeks of steeping, and topped up thereafter
How it is eaten
In small measures, neat, or added to a punch.
History
The bark of Richeria grandis, harvested in Dominica’s rainforest, is steeped in rum and sold at markets and by roadside vendors.
Frequently asked questions
What is Bois bandé?
Bois bandé is a wine & spirit from Dominica: bark-infused rum sold as a strengthening aphrodisiac tonic. The bark of Richeria grandis, harvested in Dominica’s rainforest, is steeped in rum and sold at markets and by roadside vendors.
How is Bois bandé made?
Strips of bark are cut from the tree and steeped in rum for weeks until the spirit turns reddish-brown. It is sold with the bark left in the bottle and topped up with more rum as it is drunk. It takes weeks of steeping, and topped up thereafter.
Can I make Bois bandé at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. The base is a distilled spirit, the bark is harvested from a wild rainforest tree under pressure from that harvest, and the traditional claims for it are not supported by evidence — this is a page about a thing people drink, not an endorsement of it.
What goes into Bois bandé?
Richeria grandis bark, white rum, sometimes spices, honey or other barks.
How is Bois bandé eaten?
In small measures, neat, or added to a punch.
