Mauby: A (Bitter) Taste of the Caribbean
Commercial mauby, with carbonation
Until I stepped foot into Taste of Caribbean 2 yesterday, I had only known the place as the unfortunate player in the tug of war over the former Teddy's Roti Shop space on Georgia Avenue NW. ToC2 has managed to survive, if not thrive, in the year or so since it opened a second store in that contested space, which, ironically, is now just up the avenue from the relocated Teddy's.
Personally, after tasting ToC2's dense and chewy "boneless" chicken curry roti (complete with bones), I'd choose Teddy's version any day of the week. But I did spot something in the cooler that captured my attention. It was a housemade drink in a cylindrical plastic container. A single word was handwritten on a piece of tape affixed to the container: "mauby." I asked the lone employee at Taste of Caribbean 2 what "mauby" was.
She stared blankly at me for a second. I got the feeling she thought I was an idiot for asking. She then explained that mauby was a bark or a fruit, she couldn't remember exactly. But she warned me that the drink was bitter. I told her that I liked bitter flavors, which did not increase her enthusiasm for selling me the drink. That's when I finally picked up on the vibe.
"You don't like the drink?" I asked.
She shook her head. I was impressed with her honesty, if not her salesmanship. I bought the drink anyway.
Mauby, it turns out, is not a bark or a fruit, but a drink typically made from the bark and/or fruit of a tree that grows in the northern Caribbean and south Florida. It can either be carbonated or not. The ToC2's version was non-carbonated, apparently made with just mauby syrup, water, and perhaps an added spice or two.
I immediately opened the container while waiting for my roti and took a sip. A sticky sweetness coated my tongue at first, but within moments, the bitterness kicked in. This was root beer that had gone off the reservation. Its bitterness was quite strong, but not unpleasant, particularly if your palate has grown accustomed to all those hop-monster beers on the market.
I would have happily sucked down this taste of the Caribbean, if not for the unfortunate pairing with my roti. Somehow, someway, when you take a sip of mauby after a bite of chicken curry, the bitterness factor increases by a ratio of 1,000. (Note: not scientifically measured.) I had to decide pretty quickly which one I was going to keep consuming and which one I was going to toss.
It was an easy decision really. The roti quickly found a home in the trash can.
5:56 pm
Biitch iif u neva liiked dii mauby and rotii why the fuck would u buy it and throw it away. Fuckin Mudda Scunt yuh.
6:12 pm
IslandChiick, don't forget to take your meds.
2:50 am
ha ha she sed mudda scunt. maubys the best...gotta have it over ice and fresh bajan key lime and a likkle vanilla bean. i'm thinking of concocting up a bunch and get it out here in l.a. i got a few pounds of the bark. u think its a good plan in the health market? i already am in with the only cane company in l.a. we do pure cane juice. i can branch of with rthe mauby and whatever my recipe is. it can also be fermented. whatcha think?
3:15 pm
There IS are large following of people who do like Mauby (thus they are selling it) but yes it is definitely an acquired taste. I can't speak for the ToC2 boneless chicken roti (me being vegan and all) but I Love the potato and chana one. It goes great with a side of their spinach (if they make it the same way as ToC1 does that is). Give that a try next time, that's all i ever get from there. I agree Teddy's is just a tiny bit better, but theoretically, what makes it TASTE better are all the unhealthier ingredients... so, pick your poison one more time.
2:24 pm
I'm one of those that do like Mauby. It has some healing properties in it and is known to level out blood sugar levels, although sometimes the drink can be very "sweet". Having lived with someone of Caribbean descent and having the drink a few times a week I quickly adjusted to the taste, mostly the bitter aspect. I've never eaten at Teddy's or ToC2. I will have to give them both a try.
9:12 am
This was funny and unexpected. Both are really time consuming to make. I got such a chuckle when you said you threw out the roti. I'm putting a link to your blog on mine. Love spreading the giggles along with fun tales.
11:30 am
A true mauby lover know that a beastly cold cup of mauby is good with anything, anytime.You shouldn't of thrown out that roti. I prefer Sweet&Dandy mauby syrup witha lil essence. It's good stuff. Lol.
4:31 pm
Strange that you tossed the roti, hmmm.
Like Tania said, mauby goes with anything, anytime. I can't imagine that there would be anything that I would toss when paired with mauby. I love my mauby.
11:17 pm
It definitely is an acquired taste and it's good with anything you just have to grow uP on it. Young peoPle usually do not like it but when they are older they do. I had Guyanese mauby before and I did not like it at. All