Nigerian Chapman is an easy cocktail drink with a nice blend of fruity flavours. There is a twist, the addition of Ribena. For those trying to save money , here is how to make your own chapman at home.
Ingredients for Nigerian Chapman drink
- ½ cup Grenadine Syrup
- A few dashes of Angostura Aromatic Bitters™
- 35 cl Fanta Orange
- 35 cl Sprite
- ½ an Orange
- ½ a lemon
- Ice cubes
Optional Ingredient:
- Ribena™ Blackcurrant
To garnish:
Feel free to add any citrus and other fruits of your choice: cucumber, strawberry, orange, lemon, lime, even bananas. I used the following:
- ½ an orange
- ½ a lemon
- ½ a cucumber
Notes on the Ingredients and alternatives
- Grenadine Syrup gives the drink its classic red colour. You can buy this at your local supermarket. If you can’t find Grenadine Syrup, you can use red currant (extract the juice) or pomegranate but these don’t give the drink the same taste.
- Ribena concentrated blackcurrant adds to the red colour and gives the drink a sweetened taste but it is optional. Concentrated Ribena blackcurrant is easily available in Nigeria and your local supermarkets anywhere in the world.
- You can make your ice cubes with a mixture of the Fanta and the Sprite. This is so that your drink does not go flat as is the case when the ice cubes are made with water.
- Even though the Nigerian chapman contains a very small quantity of alcohol, I know there are those who will like to make a version that does not contain any trace of alcohol. If you want to make that, you can skip the Angostura Bitters but I warn you, the Nigerian Chapman will not be the same without Angostura Bitters. 🙂
- Wondering other recipes you can use the remaining Angostura Bitters for? You can use it in cookies, cakes, ice cream, salads and other cocktail drinks. Or you can just keep it and use for Chapman, it does not expire in a hurry.
- You can buy Angostura Bitters from all big food and beverages shops in Nigeria, in your local super markets.
Before you make the Chapman
- Make the ice cubes either with water or a mixture of the fanta and the sprite.
- Make sure the Grenadine Syrup, Fanta and Sprite are chilling in the fridge.
- Cut the orange and the lemon into two equal parts each then cut one half of each into thin quarters. Reserve the other halves for squeezing into the drink.
Directions for making the Chapman
- Put a few ice cubes in the mugs.
- Add half a cup of the Grenadine Syrup, this should be about one third of the dimpled mug.
- Add a few dashes of Angostura Bitters (to your taste).
- Add a squeeze of orange and lemon each.
- Share the Fanta equally between the two mugs, do the same for the Sprite. Remember to leave some space because the garnishings will take up their own volume.
- Add your sliced garnishings: cucumber, orange and lemons. This list goes on and on, some people even add bananas to theirs 🙂
- Top off with Ribena blackcurrant if you have it.
- Stir with the straws and it is ready for drinking!
Source: All Nigerian Recipe
