Is Orijin Real Bitters?

I know you may wonder why I decided to write on this. Well Orijin Bitters is on the market isn't it? And it is being positioned as a bitters right? I had some shots of the new Orijin Bitters and I have decided to share my thoughts on this new bitters. Well before I delve into details of my experience let me first tell you what we expect, when we talk of bitters in Africa or Ghana to be specific.

As Africans we love our bitters because of its medicinal value, herbal base and above all great natural taste from pure herbs. You would remember in the days of old, our 'grandpas' and fathers would usually have a bottle filled with herbs, tree barks and roots like 'Mahogany', 'Prekese' among others in the corner filled with the locally distilled gin, 'Akpeteshie' as most of us call it. This was normally referred to as 'Bitters'

Today due to our industrial and technology age, these bitters are being manufactured in factories and has actually become a multi-million Ghana Cedi industry which I would say is a good thing. But as I always say, “with every good thing, comes a not so good thing”. I know at this point you are probably thinking what the not so good thing is?

Well, Guinness Ghana Breweries recently launched their supposedly first bitters drink – Orijin in Ghana and as the bitters lover that I am, I decided to give it a shot. At my first shot the taste didn't really sit well with me. I however gave it a chance by continuing to drink, however the more I drank, the more disappointed I became.

It was easy for me to realize that it was flavored, well then again we know our bitters shouldn't be flavored, it takes away the whole essence of the herbal feel, and if that is out then really, I ask myself; 'What is the point'?

Anyway not to patronize anyone, but I strongly think one of the key reasons why most of us like our bitters aside the fact that they boost our 'libido' performance and also stimulates our appetite. Well I don't see how drinking some herbal flavored fruit mix is supposed to do that.

I must say, I really didn't get the appetite to finish my Fufu with hot pepper soup after drinking this Orijin Bitters.

At this point, I think it is up to you to judge if Orijin Bitters is real bitters or not. For me I think Orijin Bitters is not real bitters.

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