When I last visited Goroka I was not only recommended Roots Mangyi Ginger “firewater”, but after missing the liqueur store and failing to get any steam was left with no alternative.
According to various followers and netizens this was the local equivalent to firewater. Just how true though was this statement? Well there was only one way to find out.
Firewater vs Ginger Firewater
I won’t go all in about paiawara as you can read my article here if you really want to learn about this beautiful creation. In short though it is home-brew, or steam and comes in old bottles. It also has questionable legality and in some cases is super string.
It is also super cheap with 50 Kina, or 10 bucks getting you a liter at least.
Roots Mangyi Ginger on the other hand comes in a real bottle that even has a ladle on declaring the strength of it (more on that later). The bottle though is plastic and looks like industrial drain cleaner.
How does Roots Mangyi Ginger taste?
After seeing on the bottle that it was a mere 14% I was worried that my liver would not even feel a thing. On tasting though I was pleasantly surprised as it tasted much stronger. I am not sure if this was actually the case, or if it was the extreme use of ginger that gave me this feeling.
Taste wise as you’d expect it tasted very much like ginger, but had been mixed to such an expert level that it was legitimately nice, but with a thermal kick.
I personally drank a liter with minor help from friends before getting a second bottle just to myself. This was done at Siwa Lodge as my customers slept.
The end result? Well I have little memory of going to my room, which I feel says enough itself. Would I rather have Paiawara? Well of course as I am the paiawaraman, but when I do go to Goroka, this will be my new go to.
Click the link to see my Papua New Guinea Tours with YPT