by Favour Fadairo
Palm wine is a local drink that is sweet, seemingly harmless butintoxicating. Not just a local drink, it is a source of living for somepeople and has been celebrated by the old and young in many parts ofNigeria.
Palm wine is an alcoholic beverage gotten from the sap of variousspecies of palm trees, such as Palmyra, date palms, and coconutpalms. The drink is called different names among different people ofNigeria; it is known as Emu or Oguro among the Yoruba’s of thesouthweat; Ukot among the Anang people of the south-south AkwaIbom state; Mmanya among the Igbo’s; and Gya in Hausa dialect.Palm wine tapping is a profession on its own in villages acrossNigeria.
The sap is extracted and collected by a tapper; typically, the sap iscollected from the cut-out part of the palm tree, and then a container,or agbe in Yoruba dialect, is fastened to the plowerstump to collect thewine. The liquid tends to be very sweet and non-alcoholic before it isfermented.
Palm wine is a foremost drink that has been in existence for centuries,even before the advent of technology. Among the Yoruba’s palm wineis used for ceremonies like naming, weddings, coronations, and beingserved at different local joints for relaxation. Even among students, theKegite Club, a popular sociocultural/movement of students establishedin 1960’s across many Nigerian tertiary institutions, has the palm wineas its official drink with the palm tree as its insignia. They see palmwine as a traditional African drink and a way of promoting African forAfricans.
Across some relaxation spots in many cities in Nigeria, a bottle ofpalm wine is sold at the rate of #200 or higher depending on whicharea of the commercial town or city the drink is being sold and towhom.
It is said that palm wine has been used for centuries for its medicinal value like improving digestion and boosting the immune system. Itcontains different nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and amino acidsthat contribute to overall health and well-being. Helps bone health,reduce stress, boost energy, skin health, and manage weightmanagement.Different herbs are being soaked locally with palm wine.
All these values and benefits can be possible only if consumedmoderately. From this same palm wine, a local brewed strong alcoholcalled ‘Ogogoro’ is gotten when it ferments for days.
The truth is that it is a drink that does not die because palm wine isbelieved to have a uniqueness of its own and is funny enough to beincreasingly popular these days around the world. It can be gottenanywhere at any quantity needed, even at parties. It has been usedapart from the normal drinks; many see it as natural, safe, andmedicinal.