{{Short description|Fermented drink in rural Zambia}} [[File:Local Brew.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Girl brewing munkoyo beer in rural Zambia]] '''Munkoyo'''<ref name="Steinkraus2018">{{cite book|author=Keith Steinkraus|title=Handbook of Indigenous Fermented Foods, Revised and Expanded|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AUxaDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT528|date=4 May 2018|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-351-44251-0|pages=528–530}}</ref><ref name="Rigobelo2012">{{cite book|author=Everlon Rigobelo|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZG2fDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA176|title=Probiotics|date=3 October 2012|publisher=BoD – Books on Demand|isbn=978-953-51-0776-7|pages=176–}}</ref><ref name="Malaisse2010">{{cite book|author=Françoise Malaisse|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FcXW4MJUGYkC&pg=PA289|title=How to live and survive in Zambezian open forest (Miombo ecoregion)|publisher=Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux|year=2010|isbn=978-2-87016-106-7|pages=289–295}}</ref> or '''ibwatu'''<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Phiri|first1=Sydney|last2=Schoustra|first2=Sijmen E.|last3=Heuvel|first3=Joost van den|last4=Smid|first4=Eddy J.|last5=Shindano|first5=John|last6=Linnemann|first6=Anita|date=2019-10-22|title=Fermented cereal-based Munkoyo beverage: Processing practices, microbial diversity and aroma compounds|journal=PLOS ONE|language=en|volume=14|issue=10|article-number=e0223501|doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0223501|issn=1932-6203|pmc=6805097|pmid=31639127|bibcode=2019PLoSO..1423501P|doi-access=free}}</ref> is a type of beer brewed in rural Zambia. It is a mildly fermented drink made from maize porridge and pounded ''Rhynchosia venulosa'' (known locally as ''munkoyo'') roots.<ref name="BBCWN">{{Cite episode | title=World News Today | url=https://archive.org/details/BBCNEWS_20181224_210000_World_News_Today/ | access-date=28 May 2024 | series=World News Today|author=Lukwesa Burak | station=BBC World News | date=24 December 2018 | time= | language=English}}</ref> This mixture is then boiled.<ref name="resource-online">{{cite web |last1=Jongeling |first1=Coretta |title=Beating malnourishment with traditional drinks |url=https://www.resource-online.nl/index.php/2019/11/13/ondervoeding-te-lijf-met-traditionele-zambiaanse-dranken/?lang=en |website=Resource online |access-date=15 July 2024 |language=en |date=13 November 2019}}</ref> It can then be drunk immediately after it is made or allowed to ferment for several days. It is often called "sweet beer" by Zambians. It is also found in central African countries like Congo where it is used as a drink in traditional ceremonies as well as an ordinary beverage.
Munkoyo is known to have positive health effects, including promoting a healthier gut microbiome and vitamin B.<ref name="resource-online" />
==Production== thumb|The roots of munkoyo, used to create the drink Production of munkoyo is usually done in rural villages, and is produced from cereal, specifically ''Rhynchosia venulosa''. Many individuals in Zambia rely on the production of munkoyo for employment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edepot.wur.nl/500853|title=Spontaneous fermentation of Munkoyo; a cereal-based beverage in Zambia|website=edepot.wur.nl}}</ref> Fermentation of munkoyo is primarily from lactic acid bacteria.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.heraldopenaccess.us/openaccess/a-review-of-health-benefits-of-fermented-munkoyo-chibwantu-beverages-and-medicinal-application-of-rhynchosia-roots|title=A Review of Health Benefits of Fermented Munkoyo, Chibwantu Beverages And Medicinal Application of Rhynchosia Roots|website=heraldopenaccess.us}}</ref>
==Taste== The taste of munkoyo is slightly sweet, with high amounts of starch and a pH of 3.3.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Munkoyo beverage, a traditional Zambian fermented maize gruel using Rhynchosia root as amylase source|first1=R. M.|last1=Zulu|first2=V. M.|last2=Dillon|first3=J. D.|last3=Owens|date=March 3, 1997|journal=International Journal of Food Microbiology|volume=34|issue=3|pages=249–258|doi=10.1016/s0168-1605(96)01195-6|pmid=9039570}}</ref>
==Health incidents== While collecting munkoyo roots, some root harvesters also remove poisonous roots. This has caused several incidents of dozens of people being hospitalized.<ref name="BBCWN" /> One such incident happened in Solwezi District, hospitalizing 17 and killing 2,<ref name="allafrica">{{cite web |title=Zambia: Munkoyo Kills 2, 17 Hospitalised |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/201411111354.html |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref> and another incident near Kitwe which hospitalized 98.<ref name="Times">{{cite web |last1=Kabaila |first1=Moses |title=Times of Zambia {{!}} 98 mourners poisoned after drinking munkoyo |url=https://www.times.co.zm/?p=30217 |website=Times of Zambia |access-date=31 May 2024}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Beer}} * Burukutu * Chibuku * Lotoko * Rhynchosia
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Types of beer Category:African drinks Category:Zambian cuisine Category:Republic of the Congo cuisine Category:Beer in Africa