FOR many men, anything that is said to be remotely sex enhancing is a seller!
JONATHAN MBIRIYAMVEKA
Just see how they enjoy cow trotters. These contain skin, tendons and cartilage. The taste is not bad at all, but that’s not why many enjoy this treat. Lots of chaps consume it due to its assumed ability to boost libido.
Traditionally, trotters are known to have aphrodisiac properties and for that reason it is little wonder then they are so popular at bars and pubs.
But while some middle-aged men will tell you that trotters are a tried and tested performance-enhancing remedy, nowadays the younger generation have peculiar foods and drinks they take as alternatives.
Rarely do you find the younger generation taking sex pills or “guchu”, a traditional concoction of herbs which worked yesteryear.
One of the “secret weapons” these days is Power, an energy drink which is popular on the streets of Harare. Stories abound of this new Power drink – that it works better than the cow trotters, oysters and the like.
Selling for US$2 per 310ml bottle, the Power drink has gained a reputation as a high-energy male tonic that increases libido, revitalising body and mind.
Manufactured in Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Power drink is not suitable for persons under the age of 18. The drink has a ginger/spicy taste.
In chats with The NewsHawks, men who requested anonymity spoke glowingly about the new product on the market.
“I have tried it before and I can tell you it works wonders,” one user said.
A second user commented: “In my area in Chitungwiza, guys are lacing the Power drink with Redbull and then add squashed mints and the result is out of this world.”
A third said: “You don’t have to finish the whole bottle; all you need is half bottle and you are good to go.”
A fourth said: “For me it works very well and the next day I don’t even need to take it because it will still be in the system.”
A fifth user reacted: “Ever since I started taking the Power drink, I have always lived up to expectations. So far, I am yet to feel any side effects. Even my friends from the United Kingdom and Dubai always request the drink.”
But the proliferation of aphrodisiacs stealthily packaged as “energy drinks”, “herbal health drinks” or “fermented tea” in Harare has raised questions on the safety and efficacy of these disguised “beverages”.
Interestingly, the labelling on most of the drinks makes no mention of the so-called aphrodisiac properties. Men are sauntering into bottlestores or small retail outlets and, upon requesting the drink, are greeted with a knowing wink or a smile from the shop assistant.
Power, which is marketed as an energy drink but is curiously hailed by some men for its aphrodisiac properties, is not the only fascinating product on the streets.
Another drink, Kambucha, has been on the market since 2019. Marketed as a fermented, lightly effervescent and sweetened black tea, Kambucha has its roots in Zambia. Some men swear by its potency, although the packaging makes no mention of the product’s “secret weapon” reputation.
Kambucha is available in small shops around Harare and is said to be variously made from ingredient ingredients including ginger, garlic, lemon, honey, rosemary and black pepper.
It also comes in varieties ranging from number one to four—one of which has properties of an aphrodisiac, according to men who enjoy the beverage.
The director of communication and advocacy in the ministry of Local Government and Public Works, Gabriel Masvora, who is also in charge of liquor licensing advocacy, said the authorities are only concerned with beverages that have an alcohol content.
“What we do is to licence liquor stores, but we are not worried about other beverages that don’t have alcohol like your energy drinks or soft drinks,” Masvora said.
The director of health services in the City of Harare, Dr Prosper Chonzi, said the use of energy drinks has always been worrisome.
“People should be aware that the use of energy drinks is not advisable, particularly to those with cardio-vascular problems. You talk of those with BP [hypertension] and heart problems, so the energy drinks should be avoided,” Chonzi said.
