A Caribbean Mocktail

The Taíno people, the original inhabitants of the island they called Quisqueya (present-day Hispaniola, shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti), did not brew Mama Juana in the form we know today.

Based on historical, ethnobotanical, and anthropological research, while the exact records are limited due to Spanish colonization and oral traditions.

The Behíques were the spiritual leaders, healers, and herbalists of the Taíno people. They were responsible for preparing sacred and medicinal infusions — what we might call "tea"today — using knowledge passed down through generations.  Although the Taínos didn’t have metal kettles, the bohíques developed effective and ceremonial methods for boiling and preparing herbal concoctions. 

1. Clay Pots (Ollas de Barro) Over Open Fire

• Main boiling method: Bohíques used handcrafted clay vessels placed over open fires to boil water with selected plants.
• These clay pots were fired in open pits, making them sturdy enough for repeated use.
• The teas often included herbs, roots, and barks with purifying, calming, or healing properties.

2. Stone-Boiling (Piedras Calientes)

• When fire-resistant pots weren’t available or for more controlled infusions, red-hot stones were placed into a wooden, gourd, or calabash bowl filled with water and herbs.
• The heat from the stones brought the mixture to a slow boil or steep, ideal for drawing out the plant’s medicinal qualities.

3. Infusion & Steeping

• In some cases, instead of boiling, the bohíques allowed herbs to steep in warm or sun-heated water, especially for delicate plants or ritual preparations.
• These infusions were sipped slowly or used in ceremonies involving purification, spiritual communication, or healing.

They treated ailments such as:

• They prepared teas, poultices, ointments, and smoke infusions
• Bohiquens used hallucinogenic plants for They used hallucinogenic plants, particularly cohoba, in Spiritual and Ceremonial Use in rituals to communicate with zemís (ancestral spirits or deities), .often involving inhalation through special tubes
• The goal was to seek visions, guidance, or healing energy from the spirit world, and some plants were used to Protect and Prevent evil spirits or illnesses.
• Others were used in cleansing rituals, to purify the body or home
• Leaves or herbs might be worn or carried as spiritual talismans
• Behiques passed down their botanical knowledge orally through generations by Teaching and Knowledge Preservation
• Their teachings were deeply tied to the cosmology and spiritual beliefs of the Taíno people.

In Summary

The Behiques were plant masters—they understood the healing, spiritual, and protective power of the natural world. Their knowledge was sacred, intuitive, and scientific, all at once. In many ways, they were the first pharmacologists, botanists, and therapists of the Caribbean

Generally, the first taste is soft and sweet, smooth, golden, and comforting. The woodsy, rustic flavors from 600 years ago were savored, offers a bold, earthy, and exotic taste that reflects its roots in the Caribbean.