Zulu tribes people have a long steeped tradition of Beer making. For generations homemade beer or Ubhiya in the Zulu language has played an essential role in Zulu rituals and traditions.
Zulu Beer Making
| Drink beer in africa |
Women in a special hut that is not completely covered by a roof so smoke can escape brew traditional Zulu beer. Zulu beer strainer and skimmer also known as Isikhetho is a cone shaped basket made of grass, some are tightly weaved in texture as to be capable of holding liquids. Traditional Zulu beer strainers and skimmers are usually handmade by women of beer making households or as a means of income to sell in local markets.
To obtain malt for beer, the grain, either maize or millet is soaked, wrapped in a mat, and left to sprout. It is then ground into meal and added to hot water, then is placed into a large pot, boiled for about 30 minutes and removed from the fire.
During the fermentation, which continues for many days, the scum is removed with an instrument called a beer-skimmer or Isikrini sebheya which is made for this purpose, today many people use a spoon to remove the scum. The scum is not thrown away but used later on in other batches of home the craft beer making process. The malt is then added and beer is left to ferment.
When poured out for drinking, beer passes through a beer-strainer or Umsizi weBhiya for filtration; modern tools may include netting or cheesecloth. As in most African cultures, paying homage to your ancestors is an import part of the beer making process. Ancestors are given the first sip of beer by pouring the beer into a clay pot in a special room in the house.
| Making beer |
Zulu beer has a very low alcohol content of about 2-3% and is made up by as much as 90% water and many beer-brewing households became famous for their particular type of beer, and the individual flavors of their beer strongly influenced by the brewing water’s pH and mineral content.
Zulu beer glossary translations
Alcohol – Utshwala
Beer- Ubhiya
Beer-strainer - Umsizi weBhiya
Beer-skimmer - Isikrini sebheya
Beer- vessel - Ubhiya – isitsha
Sorghum – Isihlahla
Wheat or Corn - Ukolweni
Fermentation – Ukuvutha
Water – Amanzi
Yeast – Ingwebu
