Beverage
Katikala (Ethiopian vodka)
Utensils:
3 large clay pot
6 gallon capacity
1 large container with cover, medium frying pan and sieve.
Ingredients: 2 cups barley flour(qitta preparation),5 cups red sorghum flour,7 cups corn flour,7 cups millet flour,7 cups red t'ef flour, 5 cups wheat flour,10 cups germinated wheat flour and 3 cups pounded hop leaves (Gesho).(Rhamnus phinoides L'Herit Rhamnaceae).
Preparation:
I. In a large clay pot mix the germinated wheat flour the hop leaves and 5 cups of water together. Cover and let stand for 3 days. In a large container mix the sorghum flour, corn flour, millet flour, t'ef flour and wheat flour with 2 gallons of water. Cover and let stand for 3 days.
II. Qitta:- Add 2 cups of barley flour in a small container with 1-1/2 cups of water. Mix well.Sift a little of the flour over a working table and spread to coat evenly. Add the dough and pat loghtly with oiled hands into a circle about 1-1/2 cm thick. Bake the qitta for 10 mintues. While baking qutta make sure it is covered. When ready brush
away the excess flour. Add the hot qitta and the remaining germinate wheat flour to the clay pot. Add 4 1/2 gallons of water, cover and let stand for four to five days. After the five days pour the katikala mixture through a sieve into another clay pot. Distill the liquid. Store in a glass container. Use as needed.
Katikala can be made from honey using same recipe. The alcohol content is 37.9% by volume. It is very intoxicating and is a favorite drink in most rural areas.
* In most beverage preparation smoking the clay pot is practiced for it gives a special odor to the containers. Ditterent dried plants such as `Wiera' sticks (dea africana) and `tengyt' (otoslegia integrifolia) are used to smoke tela pot.
To smoke a clay pot or a calabash,first thoroughly wash and drain the containers. Then invert the container over a smoking fire of some dried plants. Smoke the cantainer until the sides and the bottom are quite warm.
Compiled and edited by Daniel J. Mesfin.
