By Maimouna Jallow

BBC News, Sao Tome



Traditionally people ate the tree bark in the cocktail to cure hernias

A large glass bottle containing a mysterious brown liquid labelled "Pilolo Atomico" - which means Atomic Penis - occupies a prime position on the bar.

"It's so popular, even the president talks about it," says Maria-Joao Pombo, the owner of Cafe and Companhia (Cafe and Company).

"Pilolo Atomico is made up of a mixture of a local brandy and several tree barks," she says.

"We also flavour it with things like cinnamon because it is very bitter. Here in Sao Tome, they say it's an aphrodisiac."

Herbal remedy

Ms Pombo, who moved to the island five years ago, has been selling the cocktail for about a year and a half.

I knew the name sounded very suggestive but I didn't know exactly what it meant

Maria-Joao Pombo

She decided to go commercial after hearing about the local erotic concoction.

"I knew people here eat the bark of plants like Pao tree; washing it down with what they call a 'hot (alcoholic) drink'.

"So I decided to combine the ingredients and bottle it," she says.

Traditionally, however, the drink was not only used to enhance sexual potency.

People ate the tree bark to cure stomach pains and hernias. It also gave them the strength to walk for miles without food or drink.

Sceptics

And Pilolo Atomico is not its original name either, this was cooked up by some of Ms Pombo's friends while sitting at the bar.

"I knew the name sounded very suggestive but I didn't know exactly what "pilolo" meant," she explains.

"Once the drink started becoming more popular, I decided to register the name and the product.

"But they wouldn't let me. That is when I found out that "pilolo" means penis."

Sceptics say the cocktail's popularity is just down to its name, but some cafe regulars swear by it.

It tastes foul

Bibi

Cafe customer

"When I drink just one glass of pilolo, I feel strong for 12 hours. Believe me, it really does work," says Miguel.

"You just have to make sure you have a beautiful woman with you," he adds.

Women also seemed to appreciate its aphrodisiacal effects.

"It's fantastic, much better than the blue pill," says Alexia, referring to the impotency drug Viagra.

Others say the cocktail is an acquired taste.

"It tastes foul," says Bibi.

But effective or not, safe sex is the message - every Pilolo Atomico comes with a free condom.