WEST AFRICAN WINE PALM

Raphia hookeri (Arecaceae)
Location: Republic of the Congo

These palms grow to a height of about 10 m (33 ft). They are
cultivated in villages across West and Central Africa and also
occur in vast stands in swamps. When an individual tree has
reached the right stage of development, men climb to the top
of the trunk and cut away at its tip. They then use a calabash or
plastic container to collect the sap, which is left to ferment at
the top of the tree. After the first day, the resulting wine tastes
sweet and has a low alcohol content. Further fermentation time
allows the naturally occurring yeasts to convert the sugars to
alcohol, thus producing a much stronger beverage. The wine has
great cultural significance