Banana Wine Brings Sweet Taste of Success to Malawi Farmers

Emily Nkhana prepares bananas for wine production, turning surplus fruit into a profitable business in Malawi.

In the rural northern region of Malawi, a remarkable transformation is taking place, bringing hope and prosperity to small-scale farmers like Emily Nkhana. Once burdened by the challenge of over-ripe bananas rotting away in the scorching heat, Nkhana and her fellow farmers in the Karonga district have discovered an innovative solution: banana wine.

As temperatures in the region soar to as high as 42°C, the extreme heat accelerates the ripening process of bananas, resulting in significant losses for farmers. This growing problem forced Nkhana and many others to think creatively about how to save their crops. "Then we discovered how to make banana wine," Nkhana shared with the BBC, as she worked at the Twitule Cooperative Group's processing plant, peeling lemons used to preserve the wine’s flavor.

But for these farmers, making wine is more than just a business venture—it’s about survival, adaptation, and embracing new opportunities brought about by climate change. The banana farmers of Karonga were once based near the shores of Lake Malawi, where rising water levels, fueled by increased rainfall, threatened their plantations. “Some of the bananas used to drown in water,” Nkhana explained. Forced to move to higher ground to escape the flooding, they now contend with the scorching heat, which causes bananas to ripen too quickly.

The women are waiting for the wine to be approved for export

Faced with this dilemma, Nkhana and other women in her community joined forces at the cooperative, forming a small-scale banana wine production business. Their production site, located in the village of Mchenjere, is modest—a four-room house where they peel, cut, and ferment bananas into wine. Overripe bananas, which would otherwise be discarded, are peeled and cut into small pieces before being weighed and mixed with sugar, yeast, raisins, water, and lemons. The mixture is then left to ferment for several weeks, transforming the banana pulp into a unique wine with 13% alcohol content—similar to wine made from grapes.

“It’s very good quality wine. You have to drink it while seated so you can enjoy the sweet flavor,” Nkhana proudly stated. While banana wine might sound unconventional, it has quickly garnered praise from those who have tasted it. The wine, which ranges in color from pale yellow to rich amber, offers a fruity sweetness with a subtle hint of lemon and banana. “It’s smooth and light, almost like a dessert wine,” said local wine enthusiast Paul Kamwendo, who has become a devoted fan. “I had no idea one could make wine out of bananas.”

The secret to a successful banana wine, according to Nkhana, lies in timing. “You have to know when the bananas are at their best,” she explained. “Too ripe, and the wine becomes too sweet; too green, and it’s too tart.” This delicate balance of sweetness and acidity is key to creating a wine that consumers love.

The rise of banana wine in Malawi has been met with excitement not only from farmers but also from consumers. Local markets are now filled with bottles of banana wine, selling for $3 (£2.30), and it is often sold out. "We sell them at markets across Malawi, in the capital Lilongwe and the biggest city Blantyre, and it is always sold out," says Tennyson Gondwe, chief executive of Community Savings and Investment Promotion (Comsip). The cooperative has provided training to the women, ensuring that the wine is consistently high quality.

For Nkhana and her fellow farmers, the switch from selling raw bananas to producing wine has been life-changing. “Some of us built houses, some have livestock, and some have chickens. We can afford to eat decent meals now,” Nkhana shared, reflecting on how wine production has improved their economic conditions.

Currently, the Twitule co-operative produces between 20 to 50 liters of banana wine per month, but the women have bigger ambitions. "We want to produce more wine. We want to move from this small production house to a factory," Nkhana said. With hopes of scaling up their business, the cooperative plans to purchase machines to streamline production. Additionally, Comsip has reached out to the Malawi Bureau of Standards for approval to export their wine, allowing their unique product to reach international markets.

Lake Malawi is the second largest lake in Africa

As Nkhana stirs the latest batch of fermenting wine, she expresses optimism for the future. “People are curious,” she said, smiling. “They want to know what it tastes like. And when they try it, they’re surprised by how good it is.”

The story of banana wine in Malawi is one of resilience and innovation, showcasing how a community can turn challenges into opportunities while preserving a sustainable way of life. For farmers like Emily Nkhana, what started as a solution to avoid waste has blossomed into a thriving business, bringing prosperity and pride to her village.