Are you looking for a great and healthy way to revitalize your body and mind? Look no further than Kalaka Bitters, the all-natural herbal drink that is packed with nutrients and flavor.
Kalaka bitters is a miracle-working herbal drink produced by Osayuwamen Osawe who is from Benin City, Edo state.
Join us at Inlandtown New Media as we engage with Mr Osawe on a one-on-one interview, while he tells us more about Kalaka Bitters, what inspired his initiative about kalaka bitters, its benefits, and its goal for the labor market.
Inlandtown: Nice to have you here with us sir.
MR OSAWE: Nice to be here with you too.
Inlandtown: May we know you, sir?
MR OSAWE: My name is Osayuwamen Osawe, I am the producer of kalaka bitters, I am from Benin City, Edo state.
Inlandtown: That’s nice to know Mr Osawe. Did you come from a family that deals with herbs?
MR OSAWE: Occasionally yes, my dad Osawaru taught me. He used to do this as a hubby and not as a business.
Inlandtown: Just for family use
MR OSAWE: Exactly, just for family use.
Inlandtown: So, your herbal skill is a hobby from your dad?
MR OSAWE: Yes, but from my days in school, Federal University of Technology Owerri where I studied Industrial Physics, I was a mixologist. That is where my interest in making drinks started. The herbal part of my experience is a family thing. Whenever I had malaria, my dad would make herbal potions from the trees around us. It was part of our daily lives.
Along the line, I found out that my father was producing medicinal herbal drinks for his friends. He was very good at it. Anytime, I came home, he would give me some to take back to Lagos. My friends always stole them. I guess it was too good.
Inlandtown: Really, you mean your friends always stole it from you?
MR OSAWE: Yes, they always did. Luckily, I still have the last bottle he made. The last conversation I had with my dad, the last day I saw him alive, was about starting our own distillery.
Inlandtown: Sorry about your father’s loss, you lost your dad in what year?
MR OSAWE: In the year 2021
Inlandtown: and any information about your mother?
MR OSAWE: My mother, Princess Abieyuwa, is an English teacher and the Vice Principal of a government secondary school in Delta state. She sources the raw materials used to make Kalaka bitters. She finds the best raw materials, cleans them up and sends them to me in Lagos.
Inlandtown: How did you come about the recipe for Kalaka bitters?
During COVID-19 season, I fell ill. There were certain herbs I used to take care of myself. I drank it daily till I recovered fully. So, Kalaka bitters is part of my life’s story.
Inlandtown: You mean you did not take any other medicine apart from the ingredients you use in making kalaka bitters?
MR OSAWE: Yes, I did not take any other medicine apart from the herbs for Kalaka Bitters, I only boiled it, drank it, and recovered.
Inlandtown: That is a testimony.
MR OSAWE: A great testimony indeed. Kalaka Bitters is a great part of my life’s story and I will never stop talking about it.
Inlandtown: It is part of you.
MR OSAWE: Absolutely. That is how I saved myself, apart from social distancing and the other things the government asked us to do. I was drinking this every day and I sourced the herbs myself and I got better.
Inlandtown: That is very interesting to know about. Does Kalaka have any side effects?
MR OSAWE: No, it does not have any side effects. It’s a completely natural and balanced beverage.
Inlandtown: Okay sir, that is noted. So, what will you say is your inspiration for Kalaka bitters?
MR OSAWE: You see, Kalaka bitters is a tasty beverage. There was a particular day I was drinking beer and I said to myself, if I can make a mixer for beer, you know, just to give it a herbal twist, it will be nice. I pushed the idea further and gave it a unique refreshing taste.
Inlandtown: So, you can mix this with beer?
MR OSAWE: Yes, it blends well with beer and also palm wine. So, when you mix it with your beer it gives a different flavor entirely.
Inlandtown: Mr Osawe can you tell us some active ingredients used in making Kalaka bitters?
MR OSAWE: The active ingredient in Kalaka bitters is what medicine men use to treat diabetes in my village. I would like to keep the name private for now. There are other herbs and spices in it too. So, Kalaka is a blend of herbs, fruits and spices.
Inlandtown: Okay, so how did you go about the name Kalaka?
MR OSAWE: You know this shot glass that comes with schnapps bottles?
Inlandtown: Yes.
MR OSAWE: In my language, that small glass is called Ekalaka. Whenever I am bottling the product, my cousin, Nosa, will come around and say, “ please give me one Ekalaka” which means one shot.
He was always happy to taste my brew. So he came up with that name. That is how the name, Kalaka Bitters, surfaced.
Inlandtown: Interesting. So, so far have you gotten reviews from people about this?
MR OSAWE: Yes, I told you it’s a miracle-working herbal drink and there are a lot of positive reviews, especially from men, all the men that have tasted this have always been grateful and always want more.
Inlandtown: Wow, that is very nice. Is this business based in Lagos or only in Benin City?
MR OSAWE: Yes, it is based in Lagos state and it is a start-up.
Inlandtown: we will want to believe you have faced challenges and criticism ever since you started this business.
MR OSAWE: Actually, criticism is what brought this product to where it is today. The first challenge I faced was the bottling presentation. It was hard for me to find proper bottles, I sourced the market but what I wanted was not available, I wanted something different from other bottles. As you can see the bottles are very dark and not transparent, so it is a mystery that you can’t tell what is inside the bottle, and with time we will have our special bottle so that you won’t have to read the label to know its Kalaka Bitters. I also had challenges with my production process. It was time consuming. I was looking for ways to make production better and quicker. Over time, I was able to design a factory that makes the process faster. It was a pleasant challenge.
As for the taste, my customers over time have been the ones that refined it to this unique taste. At first, when I started garlic was so obvious in the taste because I like garlic a lot. A lot of people don’t like garlic. So, I had to find a way to mask it won’t be noticeable. It is still in there but you will not taste or perceive it. Also, I added more fruits. Fruits makes it taste heavenly.
Inlandtown: No chemical added to the herbs?
MR OSAWE: Everything in Kalaka bitters is natural. There are no added preservatives. After several trials, I had the perfect taste that no one complained about. Also, I had to balance the alcohol percentage. I had to reduce it from 40% to 30% and I may still reduce it because I don’t want to sell alcohol. My customers will decide.
Inlandtown: This is very beautiful to listen to. What will you say made you overcome these challenges?
MR OSAWE: Well, I am not the kind of person who stops, once I set my mind to something, I make sure I put my all into it. I do not believe there is any problem that is hard as far as you put your mind to it. I also enjoy the production process. This is something I like to do over and over. So, my passion for it made the challenges light to bear.
Inlandtown: Did these challenges and criticisms ever bring you down?
MR OSAWE: No. Not at all. I was happy because if nobody complains about your product, it means they don’t want it. My friends have taken this product with them to South Africa, the United Kingdom and the USA! Whenever my friends that live outside the country are around, they quickly ask for it. Remember I told you my product is a miracle worker for men?
Inlandtown: Yes. This is very interesting, they come for one shot.
So, with the way you are moving in the business where do you see yourself soon with Kalaka bitters?
MR OSAWE: I want my product to be in every bar in this country. I want my product to be made available in every bar and also one of the highest exports from Nigeria to other countries, to our diaspora communities abroad. I want to make Kalaka attractive to not just black but also white people.
Inlandtown: That is a very big dream
MR OSAWE: And a good dream too. That reminds me, one lingering I have had is that people mistake me for a medicine man because I make herbal drinks. People approach me every day for all kinds of medicines. It bothers me that a lot of people have not been able to differentiate between a beverage maker and a medicine man. I am usually approached for all kinds of medicines. The most common requests are medicines for fibroid and sexual transmitted infections. I also remember a man telling me to make a herbal potion that will make his wife conceive. I always advise them so seek medical help because I am not a doctor. I am only a beverage maker. I aim to please the taste buds and not to heal any disease. We have hospitals for that.
Inlandtown: This is very funny, that’s people for you.
It is no news that the economy is affecting businesses, has the economy affected you in any way?
MR OSAWE: The prices of raw materials change daily. It is painful to watch. Luckily, I have been able to find a balance because of the good relationship I have with my customers, they are fair to me and are willing to pay for the quality of my products.
Inlandtown: That is fair enough. Mr Osawe what will you say is your motivation to people who are just starting up their businesses out there and are facing challenges?
MR OSAWE: My words to people out there in this category is just listen. Many have start-ups but no execution, where you are right now, people have been there, so if someone tastes your products just listen to whatever complaints or criticism, don’t feel bad, just remove your emotions and face it with a stranger’s eyes.
Inlandtown: That is a very deep one, just listen.
Thank you very much for doing this with us sir, we hope to see you achieve your goals and attain your heights. Thank you for coming we appreciate you.
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