Emahewu (Swazi Fermented Maize Drink)
In short: A thin, slightly sour drink made by fermenting maize porridge for a day or two, served chilled and shaken before pouring. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Resting
- 36 h
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 72 kcal
Emahewu is a thin, slightly sour drink made from fermented maize porridge, and it is sold and made at home across Eswatini. A smooth porridge is cooled, mixed with a little flour or malt to get fermentation going, and left for a day or two until it smells pleasantly tart. It is filling enough to count as a light meal, and people often drink it cold on hot days. Shake well before pouring.
Instructions
- Bring 1 liter (4 cups) of the water to a boil in a large pot. Whisk the maize meal with 250 ml (1 cup) of the cold water until smooth.
- Stir the maize mixture into the boiling water and cook over low heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until you have a thin, smooth porridge.
- Take the pot off the heat and stir in the remaining 250 ml (1 cup) water. Let it cool until just lukewarm, below 40°C (105°F).
- Stir in the flour or malt until fully mixed. Pour the porridge into a clean glass jar or ceramic bowl and cover loosely with a clean cloth.
- Leave at room temperature (22 to 28°C / 72 to 82°F) for 24 to 48 hours, stirring once a day, until it smells pleasantly sour and shows a few small bubbles.
- Stir well, sweeten to taste if you like, and chill. Shake or stir before pouring, since it separates as it stands.
Tips
- Use very clean jars and spoons. If you see mold, pink streaks or smell anything unpleasant rather than sour, throw the batch away.
- Stir 2 tbsp of finished emahewu into the cooled porridge next time. The live culture speeds up fermentation and gives a more consistent flavor.
Questions and answers
Is emahewu alcoholic?
It is not meant to be. A short ferment of 1 to 2 days mainly produces lactic acid, so it tastes tart, with at most a trace of alcohol. Longer fermentation makes it stronger and more sour.
How long does emahewu keep?
Refrigerate it in a covered jar for up to 4 days. It gets more sour with time, so many people drink it within 2 days.
Why is my emahewu not sour?
The room may be too cold. Fermentation is slow below 20°C (68°F), so move the jar somewhere warmer or give it an extra day.
How long does it take to make Emahewu (Swazi Fermented Maize Drink)?
About 35 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 25 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Emahewu (Swazi Fermented Maize Drink)?
About 72 kcal per serving, with 2 g of protein, 15 g of carbohydrates and 0 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 72 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 2 g |
| Carbohydrates | 15 g |
| Fat | 0 g |
| Fiber | 1 g |
| Sugar | 0 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
