Palm and Banana Wine Making Waves in Africa; Might be another Source for Exportation

Palm and Banana Wine Making Business

Palm and Banana Wine Making Waves in Africa; Might be another Source for Exportation: Did you know that there is a wide variety of South African local drinks that have great potential to become big global brands? I bragged to my friends about the report that revealed that I was also proud of the new fact that Africa is now one of the fastest growing markets for imported wine in the world.

He looked at me for a moment, shook his head and asked, “When will Africa export its wine?” You lose when you earn

But this is what I thought. “Does Africa have its own unique wines and beverages that can thrive as global brands?” Are there any African companies already producing or exporting wine or beer native to Africa?”

This article reviews the top 5 most profitable African local wine and beer brands. I’ll also show you three of his companies I’ve found that are already building promising brands out of local wines and beers.

Very detailed and insightful article. We think you will love it!

Five Strong Potential Brands – African Local Drinks, Wines and Beverage Claims

Before European grape wines (fruit wines) were introduced to the continent, Africans had been drinking locally for centuries. We have enjoyed the different types of wines and drinks produced.

But while Western wine has become a global brand and multi-billion dollar industry, local wines and beverages remain ‘local’, ‘no brand’ and invisible. .

Africa now spends a lot of money each year on foreign wines and beverages. Our continent has become a very attractive destination for Italian, French, Spanish and American wine brands.

In addition to wine, some of the world’s biggest beer makers (including SABMiller, Heineken, Diageo and Castell) are vying for a bigger share of Africa’s growing beer demand.

Apart from South Africa, which is the eighth largest producer of grape wine in the world, our continent has no internationally renowned wine or beer brands.

Does Africa really have wine and drink to offer to the world? Of course I do! Here we take a look at the top five African local wine and beer brands that have great potential both on and off the continent.

1 – Banana Beer

Banana Beer is an alcoholic beverage frequently consumed in many parts of East Africa. It is known by many names: ‘Uluwaga’ in Kenya, ‘Kasikushi’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ‘Rubisi’ in Uganda, and ‘Uluwagwa’ in Rwanda and Burundi.

For those of you who don’t know, East Africa has the highest concentration of banana consumption in the world. For example, in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, people eat up to 550 pounds (per person) of bananas per year.

Banana beer is made by fermenting mashed ripe bananas. When the mash is made, it is usually mixed with corn, sorghum, or millet flour to provide yeast that facilitates fermentation.

Banana beer is often consumed as an everyday drink and as a favorite drink at festivals, ceremonies and cultural events. The alcohol content of this beer ranges from light to strong.

Despite the great local and export potential of banana beer, there is little commercial production of this product. Much of the beer consumed in East Africa is still homemade.

2 – Banana Wine

Most wines are made from grapes and other fruits, but wine made from bananas is still a new and exotic concept on the international stage.

Like banana beer, banana wine is also made from mashed bananas, and the process of making both drinks is very similar.

However, the fermentation process of banana wine takes much longer, giving the wine a longer shelf life than the perishable, non-storable banana beer.

This long shelf life gives banana wine good prospects for commercial production and makes it a good candidate for export to world markets.

Banana Wine is a clear, slightly sparkling alcoholic beverage, the type of yeast and the amount of added sugar can vary the sweetness and alcohol content of the final product.

Interestingly, India already produces award-winning banana wine and is investing in research to scale up banana wine production.

In fact, the Indians have developed an interesting technique that makes banana wine tastier than grape wine and up to 50% cheaper. This represents great advantages and opportunities for banana wine worldwide.

In East Africa, banana wine is still mainly produced on a small scale. Attempts are being made to realize its lucrative potential as a commercial product, but there is still work to be done.

Later in this article, we will introduce a local Tanzanian company that is already doing a good job manufacturing and marketing Banana he wine as a strong brand in Africa.

3 – Honey Wine

Honey Wine (also called “mead” in Western countries) is a wine made by fermenting honey with water. You can make some interesting variations by adding different fruits and spices.

Honey wine is probably one of the oldest wines (consumed before Christ) and has a rich history in Europe, Asia and Africa.

However, Europe’s honey was in short supply, as European bee numbers had declined significantly, and mead was no longer produced on a large scale in the West.

Africa’s abundant bee populations and vast honey production potential give the country great advantages in mead production.

In Ethiopia, his 10th largest honey producer in the world, mead (known locally as ‘tej’) is widely enjoyed as the country’s national drink.

It is also commonly drunk in Eritrea and is still a popular drink among the Xhosa and Tswana peoples of southern Africa, who call it ‘Ikilika’ and ‘Khadi’ respectively.

Honey wine has become a novelty drink in Europe and other developing parts of the world, and remains a major draw for an ever-growing number of people who want to try something other than grape wine. This market offers an interesting export opportunity for mead produced in Africa.

4 – Palm Wine

Palm wine is a very popular beverage in many parts of West and Central Africa, consumed by millions of people in both regions.

In my opinion, palm wine has a presence and tastes somewhere between beer and wine.

Known by several names, Nigerian ‘Pami’, ‘Emu’ and ‘Nkuu’, Congo ‘Nsamba’, Ghana ‘Nzuhuhuo’ and Cameroon ‘Matango’. Palm wine has a strong cultural identity and importance in these countries and is usually the drink of choice at traditional ceremonies and occasions (such as weddings and funerals).

Palm wine is a cloudy, white drink made from the sap of various types of palm trees that are abundant in the dense rainforest regions of Africa.

Juice is traditionally extracted using a tap. The amount of sap that can be extracted from palm trees depends on the extraction method, palm type, season, and soil fertility.

Freshly picked palm wine is very sweet and non-alcoholic. However, fermentation begins spontaneously soon after harvest. Over time, the alcohol content of the wine increases, sourness and sourness appear.

Palm wine is also used to make strong, high-alcoholic local gins called ‘ogogoro’ or ‘sapele water’ in Nigeria and akpetessie in Ghana. “Akpetesie” in Ghana.

Little progress has been made in realizing the profitability of commercial-scale production of palm wines like beer (which are more widely available and consumed), despite their widespread prevalence in parts of the continent.

Luckily, I came across a company that has commercial success with palm wine in Ghana and exports this product to customers in the US and Europe. This success story is detailed later in this article.

5 – Millet, sorghum and corn beer

Beer brewed from millet, corn and sorghum (also known as ‘guinea corn’) is widely considered to be African beer.

For thousands of years, Africans have brewed local homemade beer from a fermented blend of millet, sorghum and corn. Traditionally made by women, this beer is arguably one of Africa’s most popular and consumed local alcoholic beverages.

Although there are many different recipes, African beers are ‘Doro’ in Burkina Faso, ‘Pito’ and ‘Burkutu’ in Nigeria, ‘Bilibili’ in Cameroon, ‘Melissa’ in Sudan, and ‘Melissa’ in some parts of southern Africa. Known as ‘Chibuku’ and ‘Ummukonti’. (Image credit: Healingnumenor.wordpress.com)

Unlike foreign beers (barley-based), most African beers are opaque beers. That is, it often contains partially fermented corn, sorghum, or millet sediments.

Millet, sorghum and corn are abundantly grown in Africa, so this beer is much cheaper than foreign beers made from imported barley and hops. Higher percentages of corn generally produce lighter beers with a smoother taste, while higher percentages of sorghum produce darker beers.

Interestingly, many African beer brewing recipes have been passed down from generation to generation.

In the next section, we look at innovative moves by international beer giants to capitalize on the lucrative potential of local African beers.

My Favorite Business Promoting Local African Drinks, Wines and Beverage Brands

Fortunately, not everyone jumped on the fad for foreign wines, beers and beverages sweeping across Africa.

In this section, three of my favorite companies are already realizing the potential of local African wines and beers.

All of the companies I cover have successfully found ways to market these local products in ways that appeal to both African and export markets. Meet them…

#1 – Nkrenu Industries Ghana, Promising Exporter of Palm Wine in Africa

Until I learned about Nkrenus Palm Drink, I never believed that palm wine could be bottled without spoiling or losing its wonderful taste. It turns out it’s possible!

Based in Madina, Ghana, Nkrenu is a fast-growing family business that began exporting its own brand of bottled palm wine to the West about 15 years ago.

Currently the main export markets are the USA and some European countries.

Featuring a distinctive green bottle, the Nclenu Palm drink range is available in 315ml and 625ml capacities.

The company exports over 250,000 bottles of palm beverages to international markets each year. The main consumers are mainly diaspora West Africans, with a growing number of non-Africans wanting to try something different.

As with anything new or exotic, many non-Africans trying palm wine for the first time say it’s like an old local drink they’re all familiar with. It’s definitely a taste that takes getting used to.

The company says Ghanaian palm wine is unique in the way it is made compared to other West African varieties.

Those who have tasted Nclenu Palm wine feel that it is best when properly chilled.

Interestingly, the concept of bottled banana wine is still fairly new in the country, so the company admits it doesn’t face serious competition in the market. And business is booming as many consumers are excited about the product.

The existing and potential future demand for commercially produced banana wine in the East African region is enormous and largely untapped.

By enhancing production capacity and marketing activities, the company will continue to grow in both domestic and export markets.

#3 – SAB Miller, global giant leading the expansion of African beer is one of Today, the company (now headquartered in London) is present in over 70 countries around the world and sells over 20 billion liters of beer each year. Some of Africa’s best known brands include Castle Milk Stout, Eagle, Foster’s, Impala, Kilimanjaro and Hero.

In recent years, SABMiller has launched traditional African beer brands in 10 African countries.

Popularly known as ‘Chibuku’ in many parts of East and South Africa, this brand is a traditional African beer made from corn and sorghum using a variety of local recipes.

This low-alcohol beer he is packaged and sold in 1 liter cartons.

However, as the beer continues to ferment inside the package, the alcohol content of this drink increases from about 0.5 percent to 4 percent in just a few days. As such, Chibuku beer has a short shelf life and cannot be transported long distances without spoiling, so it must be produced and consumed locally.

In response to this challenge, SABMiller introduced Chibuku his Super. Chibuku Super is a variation of this traditional beer that is carbonated and pasteurized to fix the alcohol content and extend the shelf life. (Photo credit: zncc.co.zw)

Following the successful launch of ‘Chibuku Super’, SABMiller will introduce this fast-growing brand to African countries such as Ghana, Mozambique, Swaziland and Tanzania.

The company’s strategy is to offer Chibuku as an affordable beer to low-income consumers across Africa.

SABMiller’s focus on millet, corn and sorghum (the ingredients of African beer) creates a guaranteed market for thousands of farmers across the continent.

SABMiller’s support and promotion of local African beers is a huge boost for the continent. Given its vast financial resources, experience and global presence, it may only be a matter of time before African beers are exported across the continent.

Top 5 Opportunities and Challenges in Africa’s Local Beverages, Wines and Beverages

For African local beverage brands to truly thrive, entrepreneurs and businesses interested in this sector should explore the strengths and opportunities of the African continent. should be utilized.

In this section we look at five key factors essential to ensuring the success of African wine and beer. here you are…

#1 – Africa has a promising market ready for local wine and beer

Africa will be the world’s fastest growing beer market in the next five years, according to Rabobank’s March 2014 report will be

With a population of more than one billion, Africa is eyeing growth potential due to rapid economic growth and a growing youth population, of which millions are of legal drinking age.

If international brands see great potential in African beverages, why not do the same for local wines and beers? It shows that it is moving.

Now is the perfect time for local African brands to rise to the challenge and grab a bigger share of this promising market.

#2 – Raw Materials for Making Beer and Wine are Abundant

Raw materials for making local African beer and wine are abundant on the African continent. Africa is one of the world’s leading producers of sorghum, millet and maize, the main ingredients used in brewing local African beer.

The tropical forests of West and Central Africa are densely populated with palm trees, from which palm wine is extracted.

East Africa remains one of the world’s largest producers of bananas and is the main ingredient in banana wine and beer.

In addition, the continent has great potential for beekeeping and honey production, improving mead prospects.

Surprisingly, most of the established foreign beer brands in Africa are made from two small grains grown on the continent: barley and wheat.

There are no African countries in the top 10 list of the world’s wheat or barley producers. Given the abundance of suitable substitutes (sorghum, millet, maize, etc.) in Africa, why should we import these grains to make beer?

#3 – We have the skills, the craft, the know-how.

For centuries, Africa has made its own beer and wine from locally available foods and ingredients. Recipes vary among tribes, cultures and regions across Africa, but the fine arts and crafts of winemaking and beer brewing have always been passed down from generation to generation.

Africa has the talent and skill to continue and expand its beer tradition.

But despite the rich craftsmanship that produces local beer, the continent must rely on modern technology to successfully compete in today’s beer and wine market.

In addition, taking a more technological approach to address the short shelf life of local beverages and health and safety concerns in the market has become more important.

#4 – African beer and wine needs better branding, packaging and marketing Still low and underrated.

Our beer and wine brands suffer from low brand strength, supported only by weak marketing efforts and poor packaging. Substantial improvements in these areas will certainly lead to market acceptance both domestically and internationally.

For those wanting to try something different from the ‘mainstream’ grape wines, African beer and wine are the perfect opportunity to establish themselves as exotic and ‘non-mainstream’ products.

However, these brands are still unable to capitalize on lucrative market opportunities due to low market awareness, poor product image and widespread skepticism of poor quality and safety standards.

#5 – The African Beer and Wine Industry Needs More Investment

This is certainly a very good sign that stakeholders large and small are already realizing the enormous potential of local beer and wine. is.

However, like most young and growing companies, there is still a