Merisa Explained

Merisa, merissa or marissa (Arabic: [[wikt:مريسة|مريسة]]) is a traditional fermented beverage popular in South Sudan.

It is made by Sudanese women as a source of income.[1] Merisa is made by brewing dates, millet and sorghum. The brewing process has been described as complex by Western beer making standards with over a dozen steps.[2] Merisa has an 8-10 hour fermentation process and has an alcohol content of up to 6%.[3]

It is illegal to drink or sell Marissa in Northern Sudan under Muslim Sharia laws, under penalty of 40 lashes, fines and imprisonment.[4]

Baboons in Sudan are known to drink merisa when offered.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: South Sudan - Malakal - The article - Let's meet on earth . Letsmeetonearth.org . 13 March 2017. 2017-04-26.
  2. Characteristics of African traditional beers brewed with sorghum malt: a review | Université de Liège . Base . January 2012. 2017-04-26. Lyumugabe . François . Gros . Jacques . Nzungize . John . Bajyana . Emmanuel . Thonart . Philippe .
  3. Web site: Microsoft Word - sudan.doc . Who.int . 2017-04-26.
  4. Web site: Rebecca Hamilton . South Sudanese Harassed Brewing Traditional Drink . Pulitzer Center . 2010-10-12 . 2017-04-26 . 2017-04-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170427095900/http://pulitzercenter.org/reporting/doesnt-look-unity . dead .
  5. Book: Our Day . 1900 . 85 . 2017-04-26.

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