Zulu Beer

Zulu Beer Ingredients

Utshwala besizulu (Zulu Beer)

 No Zulu ceremony is complete without the ceremonial passing around of the clay ukhamba.  Utshwala is an example of this traditional fermented drink.

Ingredients:
1 kg sorghum meal with malt
500gr maize meal
12 litres water

Method:

Mix 500gr sorghum meal with 500gr maize meal.  Add 2 litres boiling water and stir until well mixed.  Cover with a lid when cool and allow to stand overnight to sour.

Boil 2 litres of water in a large pot and add the sour mixture over the heat, stirring continuously until the mixture reaches boiling point.  Cook for about an hour, then allow to cool.

Add 8 litres of cold water and the remainder of the sorghum meal and stir well.  Leave to ferment for up to three days.  Strain the liquid through a sieve.  Allow to stand for 20-30 minutes – it will then be ready to serve.