Banana beer

Banana beer is a weak alcoholic beverage that is popular throughout Africa. It is made by fermenting bananas with a cereal flour (often sorghum flour). It is sweet and slightly hazy with a shelf life of several days under correct storage conditions. The processing method and ratio of ingredients used varies widely from country to country and with personal taste. In Kenya, banana beer, made from sorghum or millet flour, is known as urwaga. In Uganda, banana beer is known as lubisi. This technical brief describes one traditional method, and suggests ways in which the hygiene and safety of the product can be improved.