Caribbean drinks- Root Man and Mauby

[Spoony Bard]

Anyone familiar with Root Man drink or mauby?

Mauby is a Caribbean tree-bark brew most popular in Trinidad. Had it for the first time at last year's Caribbean Day parade in Brooklyn. Powerful stuff, complex with herbs, a tad sweet, and bitter enough to take the paint off your car. Good at first, progressively medicinal. Of course, it's considered a magical, thirst-quenching elixir.

Then recently at a Jamaican-Caribbean place in Harlem I saw tabasco-sized and larger bottles of a drink called Root Man. The label listed a couple dozen herbs and roots, and there was a large warning sticker that read "3% Alcohol." The women behind the counter laughed when I showed it to them. They didn't know what it was like, and told me it's a man's drink. I had to try it. Tasted like carbonated mauby with a shot of vodka. Not quite thirst quenching, but good for looking tough at parties. Anyone else seen and/or tasted this potent potable?

[Steve]

Mauby makes Listerine seem like a palate cleanser. When I think of organizing the ultimate Chowhound 'gross out' meal, it would be pairing stinky tofu with mauby.