Millet beer

Millet beer in Rhumsiki, Far North Province, Cameroon

Millet beer, also known as Bantu beer, kaffir beer, or opaque beer, is an alcoholic beverage made from malted millet. This type of beer is common throughout Africa. Related African drinks include maize beer and sorghum beer.

Cultural References

Kaffir beer is directly referred to in Nadine Gordimer's short story: 'Happy Event'. The servant Thomasi complains to his missus (Ella) of another servant's poor behaviour, one of the accusations being: "'I think she makes the kaffir beer,' said Thomasi." the passage ends with Ella dismissing this accusation, "if the girl brewed kaffir beer in her room, Thomasi would be her first customer, not the informant seeking to get her into trouble."

References

• Haggblade, Steven, and Wilhelm H. Holzapfel. (2004). "Industrialization of Africa's Indigenous Beer Brewing", Industrialization of Indigenous Fermented Foods, 2nd ed. New York City: CRC Press.