A small-scale farmer in northern region of Malawi, Emily Nkhana is now making banana wine from rotten or over ripe banana.
Extreme heat was causing bananas to ripen too quickly, resulting in heavy losses for Ms Nkhana and many other farmers who live in Karonga district.
The lady discovered how to make banana wine as she peels lemons that would be used to preserve the taste of bananas at the processing plant of Twitule Cooperative Group.
For the farmers, it is not just about making wine – but also survival, resilience, and embracing the new possibilities that come with a changing climate.
They used to farm next to the shores of Lake Malawi and their banana plantations were being washed away by rising water levels due to increased rainfall, forcing them to move to higher but hotter grounds, where temperatures soar to 42C.
“Down at the old farm, our challenge was loads of water from the lake. Some of the bananas used to drown in water. Some, you couldn’t even see where we planted.
Banana wine might sound unusual to those accustomed to the flavours of traditional wine, but for those who have tasted it, the experience is anything but disappointing.
The wine, which can range in colour from pale yellow to a rich amber, has a slightly sweet, fruity taste, often accompanied by a subtle aroma and a light lemon and banana flavour.
BBC
