Kaffir beer of South Africa

Kaffir beer also known as Bantu beer, malwa, millet beer, pombe "Tchouk" or opaque beer, is an alcoholic beverage made from malted millet.

It is an alcoholic beverage with a pleasantly sour taste and the consistency of a thin gruel, is the traditional beverage of the Bantu people of South Africa.

The art of kaffir beer brewing goes back to prehistoric times. In the villages, kaffir beer is made by the women and every girl learns to brew beer before she marries.

Because of the great importance of kaffir beer in the nutrition of Bantu tribesmen who work the diamond and gold mines and who are removed from their tribal homes for long periods of time, the brewing of kaffir beer in South Africa had become big business.

Brewing kaffir beer commercially in South Africa represents one of the few instances of a large modern industry founded on a tribal art.

There are many different techniques for making kaffir beer, but the main steps involved are malting, mashing, souring, boiling, starch conversion, straining and alcoholic fermentation.

Kaffir beer is ready for consumption in 4 to 8 hours. It is drunk while still actively fermenting. This state may continue for up to 40 hours.
Kaffir beer of South Africa