A small-scale farmer in northern Malawi, Emily Nkhana, has turned what was once a loss into profit by creating banana wine from overripe bananas.
Due to extreme heat, bananas ripen too quickly, causing significant losses for Nkhana and many farmers in the Karonga district. “Then we discovered how to make banana wine,” she explains while preparing lemons for flavor enhancement at the Twitule Cooperative Group processing plant.
For these farmers, the venture into wine-making represents not just a revenue source but also resilience in the face of climate change. Previously, their banana crops were destroyed by rising water levels from Lake Malawi, leading them to relocate to hotter, higher ground with temperatures reaching 42°C.
“Up here, we have way too much heat. It makes our bananas ripen very fast and go to waste,” Nkhana adds. She is part of a cooperative aimed at improving economic conditions for local women through farming.
The banana wine production takes place in a modest facility in the village of Mchenjere. The straightforward process involves peeling and mixing overripe bananas with sugar, yeast, raisins, and water, then allowing the blend to ferment for several weeks. The end result is a potent wine containing 13% alcohol, comparable to grape wine.
“It’s very good quality wine. You have to drink it while seated so you can enjoy the sweet flavor,” says Nkhana, highlighting the potential of this innovative product.
While banana wine may be a novelty to some, local consumers praise its unique taste, which ranges from pale yellow to rich amber and has a sweet, fruity profile with subtle citrus undertones. Local enthusiast Paul Kamwendo notes, “It’s smooth and light, almost like a dessert wine.”
The market for banana wine in Malawi is growing. Bottles, priced at $3 each, are increasingly featured in local markets. Vendors report that they often sell out of their stock, especially in prominent cities like Lilongwe and Blantyre.
Ms. Nkhana emphasizes the life-changing impact this venture has had, stating, “Some of us built houses, some have livestock and some have chickens. We can afford to eat decent meals.”
The Twitule cooperative currently produces 20-50 liters of banana wine monthly and is aiming for expansion with new machinery. They are also seeking approval from the Malawi Bureau of Standards for export, demonstrating the potential for larger-scale success.
As Ms. Nkhana prepares the next batch, she smiles, “People are curious. They want to know what it tastes like. And when they try it, they’re surprised by how good it is.”
