Ethiopia is both deeply complex and devastatingly simple. It is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world, at least 2,000 years. In fact the earliest recording of the word Ethiopia is in the Bible's book of Genesis- chapter 2. And still, it's cities are some of the most modern in all of Africa.
Some of its other claims to fame include: having Haile Selassie I (AKA Jah Ras Tatafari) as an emperor and being the original source of the coffee bean, (a bean renowned for its distinct rich aromatics and robust flavor.)
But perhaps Ethiopia's greatest accomplishment is Tej.
I had the exquisite pleasure of sampling some Tej (pronounced: T'edge)on a recent trip to the capital city of Addis Ababa. Tej a is mead or wine made from honey. But make no mistake this seemingly simple brew is full of complexity.
My favorite Tej is of course the kind you find brewed in any of the hundreds of thousands of homes throughout the country. However outside of Ethiopia nothing beats a glass of Saba Tej (a honey wine indigenous to Ethiopia with roots going back to the reign of Queen of Sheba (Saba).
Saba is produced from pure wild flower honey and exotic hops imported from the Highlands of Ethiopia. It is produced without any sulfites, preservatives, or artificial coloring. Saba Tej is a semi-sweet wine with 13.5% alcohol content by volume.
Saba has a golden honey color, which of course is consistant with good quality pure honey, and is infused with extract of organic Ethiopian hops. Saba Tej has hints of apricot and citrus,and a a nice aroma reminiscent of wild flowers.
I find that Tej is an autumnal sipper, perfect for an afternoon with your favorite book, or perhaps while sharing some grilled seafod amongst friends.
For more information on Tej: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tej
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