Tej is a (usually homemade) Ethiopian honey wine. Nunu, owner/chef of Nunu's Ethiopian Fusion, a restaurant/bar in Toronto makes her own version for this summery cocktail.
Ingredients
2 ounces homemade tej
2 ounces spiced rum (such as Sailor Jerry)
1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
Method
Prepare the de facto tej in advance by boiling a cup of honey until it's lightly caramelized (approximately 10 to 15 minutes), then adding three cinnamon sticks finely ground with a mortar and pestle and three whole nutmegs finely grated. Finally, add a cup of pear purée and boil for another 10 to 15 minutes, stirring often. (Optional: In a separate pot, combine two cups of water with a cup of gesho, a traditional Ethiopian spice found in Ethiopian supermarkets. Boil until the water is half its original volume, pour the remainder immediately into the honey and pear mixture and re-heat for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently.)
Cool before use or refrigerate for up to a week.
When ready to make the cocktail, combine all the ingredients on the list shown here in a cocktail shaker filled with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into an ice-filled tall boy glass, top with club soda and garnish with a maraschino cherry and orange slice.