Let’s drink it hot: ‘mborr mborr’ tea

Lippus chevaleri, locally called ‘mborr mborr’ in the Senegambia region, is a herbal tea largely used in The Gambia, and other African countries for its health benefits, mint flavour and laxative effect.

The tea is widely used in treating certain illnesses, and complications like fever, cold, malaria, stomach complications, mental disorder, indigestion and stress.

Mborr mborr is easy to prepare: it is boiled in a clean water for about 10 minutes, and it is best taken with little sugar without milk.

Because of its popularity in the country, ‘mborr-mborr’ is a source of income for the people involved in selling it.

“I have been in this business for the past two years,” said Aminata  suwareh, a ‘mborr-mborr’ vendor. “However, the business is mostly very good during the Ramadan because many people take ‘mborr-mborr’ to break their fast.”

Aminata added that, the local tea is popular due to its refreshing and mint flavoured scent.

Mbananding, in her 70s, said: “I have been taking ‘mborr-mborr’ for ages now.  Even out of Ramadan, I drink ‘mborr-mborr’ almost every morning and sometimes at night.”

The woman explained the secret to her activeness, despite her age, is ‘mborr-mborr.’ “It makes me active daily.”

‘Mborr-mborr’ is more popular than other herbal teas available in the country, due to its health benefits.

It is now processed into teabags by some companies in The Gambia, and other West African countries. The producers highlighted that, the processing does not change its health benefits, scent or taste.

By: Awa Macalo

For Kairaba News Network