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Drinks of Ethiopia
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A large part of the landmass of Ethiopia is the mountainous central plateau, the Ethiopian or Abyssinian Highlands, with an average height of 2,000 metres, but with many peaks of over 4,000 metres. This plateau is surrounded on three sides by lower desert or semi-desert, and in the west by lowland tropical forest. The plateau is bisected northeast to southwest by the Rift Valley which reaches down to over 100 metres below sea level in the Danakil Depression near the Red Sea, but which rises to an altitude of 1,500 metres in the south of the country where there are numerous lakes. The mountains are also the source of many rivers, the best known of which is the Blue Nile which has its source in Lake Tana near the city of Bahir Dar in the northwest. Outside the desert areas most places have a fairly constant average temperature of around 20ºC throughout the year, even during the rainy season, which is from July to September. Thus, the country has the possibility of growing a wide variety of crops, and thus of producing a wide variety of drinks.
Ethiopia has two traditional alcoholic drinks - honey-based tej and tella beer- as well as making modern beer and wine. This section presents information about these drinks. It is not comprehensive or authoritative, but based on observations during a short visit to the country. The drink for which Ethiopia is most famous is, of course, coffee. Excellent coffee is available everywhere. Perfect for the morning after a night on the hard stuff.
