Nigerian Chapman Cocktail: Nigeria’s National Drink, Fanta Chapman

A Nigerian party is never complete without a cool and bubbly drink. Nigerian Chapman cocktail is a carnival of fruits coming together in a soda-syrup mixture with dazzling rose-red color. Quite frankly, it is the African Sangria.

It goes without saying that we all need a glass of something to wash down our share of the feast.

Think about Nigerian cuisine for instance. All that amazing rice, pie, and pudding would clog up in our throat if it weren’t for a refreshment.

That’s where Nigerian Chapman Cocktail comes in as the country’s national drink.

What Is Fanta Chapman?

Fanta Chapman is an incredibly refreshing Nigerian drink made from a combination of Fanta Orange, Sprite, and a few other ingredients.

There’s a reason why the Nigerian Chapman cocktail is considered the national drink of Nigeria. It’s a delicious concoction of flavors that’s easy to make, and everyone loves it!

The first thing that catches your eye would be the color that is reminiscent of sangria. Found in some of your favorite cocktails like Tequila Sunrise, Grenadine syrup gives the Chapman Cocktail the deep red color and the sweet & tart flavor.

The great thing about this syrup is, it is super-easy to obtain. You could buy it at any liquor shop, order on Amazon, and make it from scratch even! All you need is sugar and pomegranate juice. 

Who Invented Fanta Chapman?

The original Nigerian Chapman drink was created by Samuel Alamutu, a bartender at the Ikoyi club in Lagos, Nigeria for his favorite customer, Mr. Chapman.

Since then, the drink has grown in popularity across the country.

What Does Nigerian Chapman Cocktail Taste Like?

Nigerian Champan Cocktail tastes like an ordained mix of your favorite refreshing drink.

The delicate mix of sugary Fanta Orange and Sprite with the harsh flavor of Angostura bitters is subdued by the fruity flavor of grenadine and fresh fruits.

This unique combination reveals unexpected flavors that will make you dance in sheer excitement.

Love cocktails but looking for something new and unique to wet your whistle? Look no further than the Nigerian Chapman cocktail! 

Fanta Chapman Ingredients

• Fanta Orange – This recipe calls for a combination of equal parts of orange soda, particularly Fanta orange and Sprite.
• Sprite – Sprite and Fanta are finely mixed to create the perfect Nigerian Chapman drink.
• Grenadine Syrup
• Angostura Bitters – Dashes of aromatic bitters balance the sweetness of the drink.
• Lime or lemon juice – Similar to the aromatic bitter, lime or lemon juice adds a touch of tart to the drink.
• Lime – Lime slices are often used to garnish the Fanta Chapman. It can also be added to the pitcher to infuse the drink with a tart flavor.
• Cucumber – Cucumber slices add an earthy note to the drink and serve as a nice garnish against the orangy pink color of the Nigerian Chapman.
• Mint leaves – These are optional and are solely used as decoration.
• Ice cubes – The best way to prepare this citrus-flavored drink is with ice cubes made with Sprite and Fanta.
• Alcohol – For those that dare to add alcohol, a shot of rum or vodka will take this cocktail up a notch.

Another thing we fancy about the Nigerian Chapman cocktail is the making of ice cubes. Don’t you just cringe when your favorite drink goes flat because of the melting ice?

This cocktail puts a stop to that nonsense by making ice cubes out of the base liquid, which is Fanta and sprite. Once you apply it to your beverage, you will beat yourself up about why haven’t thought of it before.

The final touch is one you can skip, but it defeats the purpose of making a Nigerian Chapman Cocktail. If you haven’t heard of Angostura Bitters before, this drink will surely ingrain it into your memory.

What is Angostura Bitters?

The recipe for Angostura bitters has been kept secret until now. In fact, the ingredients used have not been disclosed.

However, it is believed to be a mix of herbs and spices, citrus fruits, vegetable extracts, and a bitter root “gentian” (Source). 

Made of concentrated herbs and spices indigenous to Central and South America, bitter is the go-to drink for giving a slightly sour and bitter taste to any cocktail.

Here, it balances the sweetness of your Grenadine syrup perfectly.

Tools Needed To Prepare Fanta Chapman

• Pitcher
• Serving glasses
• Cocktail shaker
• Sorbet maker or blender (if making frozen Fanta Chapman)

Ingredient Addition & Substitution For Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

Ribena Blackcurrant Concentrate

To balance the fruity sweetness, you can add Ribena Blackcurrant Concentrate. It will give your cocktail a sharpness while enhancing the depth of the red color, not to mention it is packed with Vitamin C.

It will certainly make a difference – in a good way – with its berry fragrance and intense dark-red color. You can also completely replace Grenadine syrup with it. 

Zobo Concentrate

Another substitute for Grenadine syrup would be Zobo Concentrate made from dried roselle and sorrel leaves.

If you can’t get your hands on zobo, black currant drink like concentrate Ribena will give your drink that signature red color.

Soda Replacement

Instead of Fanta, you can use sparkling lemonade or any orange soda. Seven-Up is a great alternative to Sprite.

Fruits & Garnish

This recipe calls for lemon, cucumber, and mint leaves for garnishing, but you can keep adding to it with strawberry, orange, or banana (although it is not always a good idea to overcrowd your cocktail).

Angostura bitters

Because of the Angostura bitters, Nigerian Chapman Cocktail contains a small amount of alcohol.

You can technically make this cocktail without Angostura bitters, but it is one of the signature ingredients.

For locals, Alomo bitters might be easier to find and buy in Nigeria. If you want to booze it up some more, feel free to add vodka, gin, or spirit.

Ice Cubes

There’s nothing worse than drinking something that doesn’t taste good. But with this drink, you won’t care because it will taste amazing! However, if you’re pressed for time and only have ice cubes on hand, go for it! 

Let’s not keep your guests waiting; here is the recipe.

How to Make Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

Ingredients

• 4 Cups Fanta Orange
• 4 cups Sprite
• 1/2 cup Grenadine Syrup
• 1 tbs Angostura Bitters
• 1 tbsp lime/lemon juice
• 2 slices of Cucumber
• 2 slices Lime/Lemon
• Mint leaves (optional)
• 1 tray of ice cubes (made with Sprite/Fanta)
• 1 shot of rum/vodka (optional)

Instructions

STEP 1: Add Sprite and Fanta to the ice tray and freeze for a few hours. The ice cubes will be used to keep the drink cold. 

STEP 2: In a jug, add equal amounts of chilled Fanta and Sprite. 

STEP 3: Add grenadine syrup, lime juice, and angostura bitters to the jug. Give it a light stir to combine the mixture.

You can take this cocktail up a notch by turning it into a frozen Fanta Chapman. Blend the mixture with the frozen Fanta/Sprite ice cubes to create the perfect slushy texture (see photo below).

STEP 4: Add your Fanta/Sprite ice cubes.

STEP 5: Cut the lime into four wedges and add to the mixture. Depending on how tart you want your drink to taste, you can add all or fewer lime wedges.

STEP 6: Add thin slices of cucumber to the mixture.

STEP 7: Optionally, garnish with mint leaves and fruits of your choice. Served cold (with booze mixed in if you dare!).

To garnish, you can use any fruit that you want, but we must warn you that it won’t be a traditional Nigerian Chapman Cocktail without cucumber.

What to Serve With Fanta Chapman

Nigerian Chapman is the perfect drink for almost any food. A few ways I recommend pairing this refreshing drink are:

• Small Chops – Finger foods and light snacks are commonly called “small chops” in Nigeria. Puff puff, Nigerian chin chin, and fish roll will be an incredible combination.
• Main Course – Nigerian Chapman cocktail is a staple at any Nigerian birthday party and special event. Serve this drink with your main courses like fried rice or jollof rice for a nice balance between savory and sweet.

Tips For Making Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

• Before you start making the cocktail, make sure that you kept your syrup, Fanta, and Sprite in the fridge and that they cooled down.
• To add a tad more fruit flavor, you can squeeze lemon or orange juice into your cocktail before pouring your Fanta and Sprite.
• You can always adjust the amount of your Grenadine Syrup or Angostura Bitters according to your taste. Just remember to leave space for the fruits.

How To Store Fanta Chapman

Homemade Fanta Chapman is best consumed immediately after preparation. The effervescent quality from the soda hits right when fresh.

That said, you can prepare this drink up to a few hours before your guests arrive. Nigerian Chapman stores well up to three days in the refrigerator.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nigerian Chapman Cocktail

Conclusion

Nigerian Chapman Cocktail Recipe is a delicious drink that will make you feel like you are on a tropical vacation.

One taste of this Nigerian cocktail drink will have your taste buds singing with joy. With its sweet and tart flavors, this cocktail is perfect for any occasion.

Think of it as your trophy for all those hours spent in the kitchen, cooking, and baking tons of Nigerian goodies.

Tell me if you liked my frozen Fanta Chapman or stuck with the classic Nigerian Chapman recipe.

If you customized your Chapman Cocktail, let me know how it turned out in the comment below.

Recipe and photos updated in 2022. Original photos below: