Close Menu
Top 10

Medicinal properties of plants inspire Waeska menu

The Waeska Bar at London’s Mandrake Hotel has created a menu of cocktails inspired by ethnobotany, the study of practical and medicinal uses of plants.

The Szechuan uses the Brazilian Szechuan flower

The bar team at Waeska carried out extensive research into the medicinal properties and benefits of a variety of different ingredients, eventually settling on 14 plants that each inspired a different cocktail on the menu.

Flowers, roots and plants such as wakamomo, a green Asian peach; cactus blossom, which is native to the Americas; and enoki, an Asian mushroom, have all inspired cocktails on the bar’s latest menu.

Visitors to Waeska Bar can sample cocktails such as Vetiver, which uses Indian bunchgrass vetiver mixed with Copperhead Gin, yuzu and shiso sorbet. Vetiver is known for its ant-anxiety abilities.

The menu also features Szechuan, which is made with its namesake Brazilian flower that is said to offer a “multi-sensorial experience” and can be a remedy for stammering and toothache. The cocktail combines Szechuan, basil sorbet and yuzu-infused agave.

Barley is also used in the new menu due to its high fibre properties and its ability to lower cholesterol. The bar’s Barley cocktail combines Chivas 18 Year Old, barley, hazelnut butter, mint and maple syrup.

To find out more about the drinks on Waeska Bar’s new menu, click through the following pages.

Devil’s Claw

The Devil’s Claw is a flowering plant from the sesame family, its roots and tubers are used to make medicine for use as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic in lower back pain and osteoarthritis.

The cocktail combines devil’s claw tincture, pandan leaves, Ginjo saké, Bombay Sapphire gin and Perrier-Jouët Champagne.

Jalapeño

The jalapeño is a medium-sized chilli pepper. The capsaicin that gives the pepper its spice is responsible for many health benefits including boosting metabolism and it can kill more than 40 types of cancer cells without harming healthy cells.

The cocktail combines Casamigos Blanco Tequila, passion fruit and grapefruit soda, pickled jalapeño and chipotle.

Enokitake

Enoki mushrooms are commonly known in Japan for their health benefits, which includes overall immune system-enhancing qualities as well as helping with liver illness.

The cocktail combines Suntory Toki Whisky, Amaro Montenegro, Calabro Porcino Liqueur, balsamic, coffee and enoki mushrooms.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a perennial plant and its possible health benefits include improved concentration and digestion.

The cocktail combines rosemary-infused Rémy Martin 1738 Cognac, homemade pomegranate liquor, coral lentils and coconut milk.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No