The Nigerian Palm wine plays a very important role in traditional celebration and it is always a must have.
Since a lot of us live outside Nigeria and can’t get our hands on it, this could be a close substitute, if you must have it at your event.
I have to make it clear again that, this is NOT your everyday palmwine, but a simple method of making alcohol that looks like, smells like and tastes like Palm wine.
It was a lab experiment one crazy professor taught my collegues and I at the UNI and funny as it may seem; One of us has turned it into a fast growing business outside Nigeria and supplying to African weddings and parties.
It is made in the same process as the tapped palm wine, just that instead of fermenting the sweet tasting palm sap with yeast present in the gourd, we will be fermenting cane sugar or castor sugar with normal baking yeast or brewers yeast.
Ingredients for Palm Wine substitute:
– 200ml cool water (in a plastic bottle)
– 50ml warm water
– 10-12 spoonful castor sugar or cane sugar )
-10 grams fresh yeast or(3 grams dried yeast)
– A balloon(to check fermentation)
– A rubber band( optional)
Palm Wine making Directions :
* First dissolve the yeast in warm water
* Add sugar and mix thoroughly
* Pour the yeast mixture into the bottle containing the cool water, cover with the tap and shake lightly.
* Remove the bottle cap and place the balloon on the bottle mouth;press the rest of the balloon inside the bottle.Seal the top with rubber band.
* Store in a dark place for 48 to 72 hours
* After 48 hours , you will get a whiter solution with bubbles in it and the rest of the balloon you inserted inside,would have risen to the top(inflated).You’ll also see some residue at the bottom.
*Take off the balloon at the top, cover with bottle cap and shake well.
* And your homemade Palm wine is ready. Chill,serve and Enjoy!
— Palm wine is also known in Nigeria, as Palmy, Mmaya ngwo, Nkwu Elu.Mmanya Ocha, Emu and Oguro) —
By Nky Lily Lete
Excellent Result. Taste and smell top notch. However, the sugar was way too much. I will half the sugar for the next batch. Hopefully it won’t affect the fermentation process. I will then titrate upwards for the perfect balance. Will report back my experience. Thanks. HINT: 3g of yeast is 3/4 of a tsp.
Author
Great work Lolee, let me know how if your changes affected the end results
Thanks for the update
I tried it! Tasted and smelled like palm wine. I used the lower sugar, heaped full, not levelled. I found the sugar a bit too much. I shall be making again, i shall reduce the sugar this time. Thanks for sharing
Author
I’m glad you found it useful Chinedum, thanks for your feedback.
Does this method produce similar taste, smell and flavor as the traditional palm wine?
Author
Interestingly, it does and has been used for traditional
weddings in most parts of Europe by some Nigerians
in the absence of the original palm wine
What is the volume of alcohol in it
So is it total 10 g yeast or 13g??
Author
It’s 10 gr if using fresh yeast
and 3gr if using any dry yeast.
Hello, When you say 10-12 spoonfuls sugar, is that teaspoons or tablespoons. Do you have an approximate weight in grams of sugar that is recommended? Thank you. Excited to try this!
Author
It’s table spoonfuls and about 125 grams of sugar.
Sister m biko which store do i find d castor sugar n d fresh yeast, 2ndly hw do i do d mixture to increase d alcoholic volume. Udo dili gi.
I see several types of palm sugar and palm nectar. Would this work, what is the nectar on store shelves
Hello, please how will i make pure palm wine without fermenting it
Hello, please how will i produce pure palm wine?
I made 10 gallons for my sister's traditional wedding here in Alaska and it was a success, everyone was thrilled to have palmwine. Some even thought we imported it hahaha .Now i make palmwine with your recipe, to supply to people's wedding. Thanks my sister, you a doing us proud ooo 🙂
What type of yeast did you use? Am curious. Is it the type for baking or…… please want to know
I used fresh baking yeast, but the instant powdered yeast will do too.
Thanks.I am currently preparing it , but did not know when it would be ready lol
It would be ready in 48 hrs to 72hrs.After 48hrs, check the drink, you'll notice the change in smell.It tends to ferment faster in hot weather, but in colder days it will take 72hrs.Watch the video and you'll see how it looks when it is ready.
Thank u.I followed the recipe , but didnt know when its finished
Ms. Lily How long can the Palm Wine made with this method be kept before it goes bad? Will it turn into vinegar? Also once the ballon no longer inflates is it done?
It takes about 48 to 72 hours to get the palm wine taste, don't depend solely on the balloon. and the fermentation process actually stops when stored in the fridge. It can keep for 3 days. That's the longest I have stored it.
How much does the recipe make?
About 300ml .
Are you serious? cos am sure making this for my husband's birthday party in June and his friends are gonna come, does it make you tipsy like the real palm wine? Which is better dry or fresh yeast?
The two types will come out fine, but I prefer the fresh yeast because it is fresh :)Before you make a big bash, practice with a little quantity, so that you won't go wrong, and yes it can make you tipsy, if you take too much.
Mmmm i wonder how it tastes am south African and i want to make palm wine soon
It taste just like the tree tapped palm wine. Try it out and give me your feedback 🙂
Pls what is castor sugar
It's the same as the normal white sugar we use for tea and pap 🙂
Pls d ballon is d one use for decoration of halls and event?dat is ballon kids use for pplaying
yes dear, that same balloon 🙂
I did it three good times and it all tasted awesome thanks but please what is the volume of alcohol in it