Chibuku Shake Shake
{{Short description|Sorghum beer based on Umqombothi African beers}}
{{Infobox beverage
| name = Chibuku
| caption =
| type = Opaque Beer
| abv = 3.3% to 4.5%
| proof =
| manufacturer = Delta Beverages
| distributor =
| origin = Zimbabwe
| introduced =
| discontinued =
| colour = Tan-pink to white
| flavour =
| ingredients = Sorghum, Maize
| variants = Chibuku Super
| related =
| website =
| logo = Chibuku Shake Shake logo.png
}}
Chibuku is a commercial sorghum beer based on the traditional Umqombothi homemade African beers; the main grains used are malted sorghum and maize but may also contain millet.{{cite news | url=https://www.economist.com/news/business/21602999-long-established-african-firm-went-global-only-find-fastest-growing-market-was-its | title=The Beer Fontier | newspaper=The Economist | accessdate=20 June 2014}}
The brand name
"Chibuku" comes from Max Heinrich's habit of recording all consumers' comments and process changes in a book. Chibuku is an adaptation of the local word for "book" - "Chi" is the prefix meaning "big", "buk" = "book", and the terminal "u" is because most African nouns tend to end in a euphonic vowel.{{cite web | url=http://www.travelmalawiguide.com/chibuku.html | title=Chibuku | accessdate=20 June 2014 | archive-date=10 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150910225135/http://www.travelmalawiguide.com/chibuku.html | url-status=dead }}
The shake-shake comes from the ritual of shaking up the beer before taking the first sip. The beer contains starch, germ, and yeast (all typically removed in lagers and ales), and since the solids settle to the bottom of the carton, it needs to be shaken before sipping.
Alcohol content
The alcohol content in a fresh Chibuku is relatively low, starting at about 0.5% ABV on day one. Still, as fermentation continues in the carton, the longer it is kept before drinking, the stronger it gets. It may achieve 4% ABV before the shelf-life expires after between 4 and 6 days after packaging.{{cite web | url=http://www.iol.co.za/business/companies/sabmiller-takes-chibuku-across-africa-1.1400568#.VSWKOZPhA81 | title=SABMiller takes Chibuku across Africa | accessdate=8 April 2015}}
The brand
Chibuku is a pan-African brand of opaque sorghum beer made by various African brewers.{{cite web | url=http://www.delta.co.zw/trad/chibuku | title=Chibuku Brand page | publisher=Delta Corporation | accessdate=20 June 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504080407/http://www.delta.co.zw/trad/chibuku | archive-date=4 May 2017 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.unbreweries.co.za/view/unb/en/page60.html | title=UNB Our Beer Brands | accessdate=8 April 2015 | archive-date=24 March 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324005846/http://www.unbreweries.co.za/view/unb/en/page60.html | url-status=dead }} Part of the reason for the success of the brand is the commercial brewing process with systems to ensure a consistent quality product that is safe for consumers. Chibuku comes in 2 packs: Chibuku "Scud," a non-carbonated drink and Chibuku "Super," a carbonated sorghum beer.
Chibuku is often the choice of less affluent consumers who can't afford bottled beer, and this may still be the case for many of the consumers in Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.{{cite web | url=http://goafrica.about.com/b/2013/03/12/chibuku-shake-shake.htm | title=Chibuku Shale Shake | accessdate=20 June 2014 | archive-date=11 July 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711090500/http://goafrica.about.com/b/2013/03/12/chibuku-shake-shake.htm | url-status=dead }} However there are also consumers in the emerging middle class who enjoy the beer as a preference, because of the taste and for the health connotations.{{cite web|last1=Murray|first1=Slater|title=Chibuku: Africa's original beer|url=http://www.beerhouse.co.za/2014/10/30/umqombothi-africas-original-sorghum-beer/|website=Beerhouse|accessdate=7 April 2016|archive-date=2 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602034304/http://www.beerhouse.co.za/2014/10/30/umqombothi-africas-original-sorghum-beer/|url-status=dead}}
It is now brewed in some of Zambia's neighboring countries
Production
Chibuku is now brewed across Africa by various brewers.
- Botswana it is brewed by Botswana Breweries subsidiary of Kgalagadi Breweries Limited
- Ghana by Accra Brewing Limited{{cite web | url=https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2012/03/13/abls-chibuku-plant-to-create-20000-jobs-mahama/ | title=ABL's 'Chibuku' plant to create 20,000 jobs | date=13 March 2012 | accessdate=8 April 2015}}
- Malawi by Chibuku Products Ltd
- Mozambique by Cervejas de Mocambique
- South Africa by United National Breweries (SA)
- Tanzania by Tanzania Breweries Ltd{{Cite web|url=http://globserver.cn/en/africa/press/Tanzania%20Breweries%20now%20partners%20with%20traditional%20liquor%20outlet%20owners|title=DarBrew has packaged un-malted local beer Chibuku Super. The Tanzania Breweries Ltd is expanding its market for traditional liquors.{{!}} glObserver Global Economics|website=globserver.cn|access-date=2017-08-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831173634/http://globserver.cn/en/africa/press/Tanzania%20Breweries%20now%20partners%20with%20traditional%20liquor%20outlet%20owners|archive-date=2017-08-31|url-status=dead}}
- Uganda by Nile Breweries Limited{{cite web | url=http://www.nilebreweries.com/?p=98 | title=Chibuku | accessdate=7 April 2016}}
- Zimbabwe by Delta Beverages - Chibuku was first brewed at a brewery in Mbare Harare in 1954.
See also
{{portal|Beer}}