What is the national drink of Ethiopia?

Tej is a honey wine, like mead, that is brewed and consumed in Ethiopia. It has an alcohol content generally ranging from 7 to 11%. It is often home processed and consists of three main ingredients; honey, water and a medicinal shrub called 'Rhamnus prinoides'.

Tej is also available to commercially buy in many different types. It is generally consumed during social events such as festivals or weddings, and religious events like the Ethiopian New Year.

Tej forms an important part of Ethiopian society and culture and is considered the national drink of Ethiopia. It is thought to be one of the oldest alcholic beverages ever produced.

Tej and honey wines in general are considered to be primitive types of wine that are cloudy, yellowish in colour, sweet and effervescent. The specific flavour of the wine largely depends on which area in which the bees have collected nectar to produce the honey and especially the climate there.

Whilst the exact steps of Tej making may differ between different people, it is most frequently made from a mixture of one-part honey to five parts water. However, a less expensive version of Tej can be made by replacing some of the honey with sugar. In this case, the yellow colour is then created by adding a natural yellow food colouring.