14 Authentic Ethiopian Drinks You Can Make At Home

There are several uniquely Ethiopian Drinks that you should try to experience, whether you have the chance to visit Ethiopia or you are in some other country and happen to find an Ethiopian Restaurant in your locale.

While Ethiopia is known as the birthplace of coffee, there actually several more unique drinks that have only been consumed in Ethiopia until very recently, where Ethiopian Restaurants have made it possible for anyone around the world to experience them as well.

Ethiopian Traditional Alcoholic Drinks

There are several traditional alcoholic drinks that are customarily homemade by using natural ingredients. Here is a list of the most popular and wildly consumed traditional alcoholic beverages in Ethiopia.

  • tej traditional ethiopian honey wine

    Tej (Traditional Ethiopian Honey Wine) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    Tej (Ethiopian honey wine) is a unique and intriguing drink with a long history and cultural significance. It is traditionally made from honey, water, and the leaf and stems of Gesho (a type of plant similar to hops). It has a distinct flavor that can be sweet or dry depending on how it is made, and it can range in strength from light to strong. Here is a step-by-step recipe that will help you prepare Tej at your home. Enjoy!

  • tella recipe

    Tella Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Advanced

    In Ethiopia, tella, a traditional alcoholic beverage, is very popular. It can also include spices. It is made from a variety of grains, including barley, corn, wheat, millet, or teff. For fermentation, shiny-leaf buckthorn leaves that have been dried and powdered are utilized.

  • keribo recipe

    Keribo Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    One of the most popular traditional fermented drinks in Ethiopian rural and urban areas is Keribo, also known as Keneto. It is frequently served on holidays and during special events like weddings. Keribo is made using sugar and overtoasted barley grain. Here is a simple recipe that you may use to create Keribo at home.

  • shamita recipe

    Shamita Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Shamita is a traditional fermented beverage widely consumed in different regions of Ethiopia, especially by the Gurage people. It is low in alcohol content, and is made by overnight fermentation of mainly roasted barley flour. Because of its thick consistency and being a good source of protin, Shamita has been known to be used as a meal replacement. However, it has poor keeping quality and must be consumed within a few hours after being ready for consumption.

Ethiopian Traditional Non-Alcoholic Drinks

Ethiopia is also home to various traditional non-alcoholic drinks that are made from natural and healthy ingredients. Here are a few of the well-known non-alcoholic drinks.

  • spiced bunna ethiopian coffee recipe

    Spiced Bunna (Ethiopian Coffee) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Coffee is referred to as “Bunna” in Amharic, and if you enjoy drinking it, you are probably already aware that Ethiopia is where coffee first originated. Ethiopian coffee, Bunna is renowned for its flavor, satisfaction, and aroma around the world.

  • birz recipe

    Birz Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Birz is a traditional Ethiopian beverage made from water and fermented honey, that was once used as a regular substitute for water. It is quite tasty, refreshing and has many health advantages.

  • yesuf weha ethiopian sunflower seeds juice recipe

    YeSuf Weha (Ethiopian Sunflower Seeds Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    YeSuf Weha is a tasty Ethiopian drink that also comes with a lot of health benefits thanks to the sunflower seeds that are the core ingredient of the drink. Sunflowers are a great source of heart-healthy fats, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals that may help lessen your chance of developing common health issues such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes. It is also vegan/vegetarian friendly.

  • yenug weha ethiopian niger seeds juice recipe

    YeNug Weha (Ethiopian Niger Seeds Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    YeNug Weha is another one Ethiopia’s refreshing and healthy beverages. While it’s not quite a popular drink, it certainly does bring a lot to the table. The core ingredient of YeNug Weha is Nug (Niger Seeds), which originated in Ethiopia and is believed to have been domesticated before 3000 BC in the highlands of Ethiopia, where it is still cultivated as an oilseed crop. YeNug Weha has a slight nutty taste that comes from the Niger seeds, and is great source of amino acids. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make YeNug Weha at home.

  • yeaja atmit ethiopian cream of oatmeal recipe

    YeAja Atmit (Ethiopian Cream of Oatmeal) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Atmit is an excellent, nutritious beverage that resembles a thin, filling porridge. Atmit, which has its origins in Ethiopia, is a widely consumed comfort beverage there that both kids and adults love. Several cereals and ingredients can be used to make it. As a result, Atmit recipes might differ greatly.

  • yebesso duket smoothie barley and fruit juice recipe

    YeBesso Duket Smoothie (Barley and Fruit Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Barley is a popular cereal crop in Ethiopia. It is consumed as a snack slightly roasted to make Kolo, or roasted and ground to make YeBesso Duket, which can be mixed with water and honey to make a tasty, filling, and nutritious breakfast or snack. And it will even taste better when some fruits are added to the mix! Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make YeBesso Duket Smoothie at home.

  • telba ethiopian flaxseed beverage recipe

    Telba (Ethiopian Flaxseed Beverage) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Intermediate

    Telba is a rich, pleasant, and healthful beverage from Ethiopia. It is created from ground, toasted flax seeds. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Telba (Ethiopian Flaxseed Beverage) at home.

  • yetelba smoothie flaxseeds fruit juice recipe

    YeTelba Smoothie (Flaxseeds Fruit Juice) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    YeTelba Smoothie is a very nutritious and tasty Ethiopian beverage that you can enjoy as a breakfast or snack. It is incredibly nutritious and quite healthy. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make YeTelba Smoothie at home.

  • fruits vegetables and telba flaxseeds smoothie recipe

    Fruits, Vegetables, and Telba (Flaxseeds) Smoothie Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    This Fruits, Vegetables, and Telba (Flaxseeds) Smoothie is packed full of healthy nutrients tahnks to all the fruits and vegetables that are included, such as flaxseeds, mango, apple, banana, kale, spinach, carrots, celery, and honey. The conoction of this recipe is carefuly curated to get the most benefit out of each ingredient, while also taking careful consideration to the balance of taste that comes as a result of mixing these particular ingredients. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Fruits, Vegetables, and Telba (Flaxseeds) Smoothie at home. Enjoy!

  • besso betelba ethiopian barley and flax recipe

    Besso BeTelba (Ethiopian Barley and Flaxseed) Recipe

    Cooks in 70 minutesDifficulty: Easy

    Besso BeTelba is an incredibly nutritious and filling beverage that you can drink for breakfast or snack. It is also really easy to make, and takes very little time to prepare. Here is a simple recipe that you can follow to make Besso BeTelba at home.

Share your love
Sara Seife
Sara Seife

Sara is a blogger, nutritionist, and recipe engineer who loves to create and share Ethiopian food recipes and guides. She is the Chief Editor of The Ethiopian Food, an online platform that aims to help people all over the world learn about and enjoy Ethiopian cuisine. Sara is passionate about sharing her love of Ethiopian food and culture with others, and she hopes that her recipes and guides will help people to create delicious and authentic Ethiopian meals at home.

Articles: 147