Haiti – the land of Vodou and vivacious all-nighters. Though Haiti may be a country known for its crime and poverty, this never stops the young and old alike from overindulging at their fèts, or riotous parties, where they consume their favorite drinks of choice, including the Haitian specials Crémas and the Haitian Flyer (recipes below). Yes, Haiti knows how to get slammed with the best of ‘em, but it commonly leaves them with a problem the next morning: the brown-bottled flu rivaling the destruction of Goudougoudou.
Our hangover relief experts in Key West know how to help anyone overcome a hangover using intravenous fluids and IV drips, but Haiti takes a different approach. When they are feeling a bit hungover-whelmed, they turn to their religion of Vodou to Haiti-essential way of curing hangovers: sticking 13 pins in the cork of the bottle responsible for their inebriation.
Though Haitians don’t know exactly how this practice came about, they believe that sticking pins in the cork banish the effects of their alcoholic dissipation from the previous night. Much like a Vodou doll works, the pins serve as a punishment to the alcohol they consumed. The result of this aberrant ritual is alleged hangover relief straight from the alcohol Ios (Haitian gods).
Something else that is interesting about this strange ritual is that the pins must be black. The color black, which you think would be related to the near-death feelings hangovers bring, is actually symbolic of Vodou beliefs associated with transfiguration or removal of bad habits (though let’s face it: they are probably going to get plastered again tonight). We probably don’t want to know what happens if we use a different colored pin…
We know there is still the question lingering in the back of your mind: “What if they drank alcohol that wasn’t in a bottle?” (How did we know this was your question? That’s right – Vodou). The answer is simple: they slam down greasy foods like everyone else. You can expect that hungover Haitians resort to griyo (fried pork), tassot (fried beef), or fried plantains to get rid of anything else that Vodou can’t cure. They claim these fried foods help to abate the Hati-ruption going on in their heads.
When you need hangover relief after a rager, trade show, or a long day on the beach in Key West, we offer you more than a folk cure. We use state-of-the-art medicines administered by medical pros that are trained to kick a hangover’s ass, and we do it all in 45 minutes. If you have a hangover during your vacation in the Keys, give us a call. We know it may be satisfying to stick pins in a cork, but when you realize that doesn’t work, we will provide you such quick relief it will almost feel like Vodou!
CALL NOW: 305.912.4911
Crémas Recipe
Ingredients:
1c. Rum
1c. Coconut milk (can be substituted for evaporated milk)
2c. Sweetened-condensed milk
1tsp. Vanilla extract
Nutmeg to taste
Cinnamon to taste
Anise to taste
Directions:
Blend the rum, coconut milk, and sweetened condensed milk, adding vanilla extract and powdered nutmeg, cinnamon, and anise to taste. It is best to serve chilled on ice.
Haitian Flyer Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1.5 oz Dark rum
- .25 oz Fresh lime juice
- .5 tsp Corn syrup
- Champagne
- Quartered Lime (Garnish)
Directions:
Combine all but the champagne with ice in a shaker and shake for about 30 seconds. Strain the cocktail into chilled glass. Fill the rest of the glass with champagne and garnish the drink with lime quarters.