Thobwa (Malawian Fermented Maize and Millet Drink)
In short: A cloudy, lightly sweet and tangy Malawian drink made from maize porridge fermented with sprouted millet, served cold and shaken before pouring. It takes about 35 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Resting
- 16 h
- Total
- 35 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 135 kcal
Thobwa is Malawi's most popular non-alcoholic drink, sold in plastic bottles at roadsides and bus stops and poured at home for guests. Maize porridge is cooled and mixed with sprouted millet flour, which turns the starch sweet, then left to ferment for a day. The result is thick, slightly sour and filling, closer to a drinkable porridge than a juice. Serve it chilled and shake it well first.
Instructions
- Whisk the maize meal with 300 ml (1 1/4 cups) of the cold water in a pot until smooth. Add 600 ml (2 1/2 cups) more water and bring to a boil, stirring.
- Simmer over low heat for 15 minutes, stirring often, until it makes a thin porridge. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 300 ml cold water.
- Let the mixture cool to lukewarm, about 40°C (105°F). If it is too hot, the millet enzymes will not work.
- Stir in the millet flour until it dissolves. Pour into a very clean glass or plastic container, cover loosely with a cloth and keep at warm room temperature.
- Leave for 12 to 18 hours, stirring once or twice, until the thobwa smells pleasantly sour and tastes slightly sweet. Stir in the sugar.
- Chill for at least 2 hours. Shake or stir well before serving, since the solids settle.
Tips
- Sprouted millet flour is sold in African and health food shops. Sprouted sorghum flour is a good substitute and works the same way.
- Taste it after 12 hours. Longer fermentation makes it sourer and eventually slightly alcoholic, so refrigerate once it tastes the way you like.
Questions and answers
Is thobwa alcoholic?
Fresh thobwa is a mild, non-alcoholic drink. If it is left for several days at room temperature it keeps fermenting and becomes sour and slightly alcoholic.
How long does thobwa keep?
Refrigerate it for up to 3 days in a closed bottle. Discard it if it smells rotten, looks pink or has any mold.
Can I make thobwa without millet?
The sprouted millet is what breaks down the starch, so it is important. Sprouted sorghum flour works, but plain flour will not give the same result.
How long does it take to make Thobwa (Malawian Fermented Maize and Millet Drink)?
About 35 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 20 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Thobwa (Malawian Fermented Maize and Millet Drink)?
About 135 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 29 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 135 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 5 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
