Mbege

Mbege is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented bananas. The drink is traditionally made by Chaga (Chagga) people—the Bantu-speaking ethnic group who traditionally live on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru. Traditionally made by women, mbege is produced with a time-consuming technique in which the bananas are cooked and fermented before the liquid is mixed with sprouted millet porridge.

Often, quinine bark is also added to the mix. The combination is then left to ferment further. Mbege is usually made with a local banana variety known as ndizi ngombe, and the final flavor of the drink is often described as subtly sweet, sour, and malty.

It is mainly consumed as a ceremonial drink, and it is traditionally shared by a group of people. In the past, it was also used as a form of payment.