A Field Survey to Assess the Consumption of <i>Nkang</i> for Standardization and Valorization in the North-West Region of Cameroon

Abstract

In African communities, traditional beer drinking remains a unifying factor within its populations both socially, commercially, culturally, politically, in health and nutrition and for some ritual practices. In this research a field survey was carried out to investigate the consumption of corn beer and in particular Nkang in the North-West Region of Cameroon. The tools that were employed to carry out these investigations included face-to-face interviews and the use of properly designed questionnaires. Results from the survey showed that three types of maize-based beverages are drunk in the North-West Region of Cameroon, which are locally called Kwacha (whitish, most viscous and most turbid), Sha-ah (cream white, viscous and turbid) and Nkang (dark brown, least viscous and least turbid) in terms of colour, viscosity and turbidity. The percentage awareness of the existence of these beers from the sampled population gave the following values; 60.9% for Kwacha, 100% for Sha-ah and 89.1% for Nkang. Nonetheless, 54.5% of the 60.9% of those who were aware of the existence of kwacha had at least tasted it. Also 98.2% out of the 100% for Sha-ah and 85.5% out of 89.1% for Nkang had tasted them, too. Nkang was found to be the most preferred to Sha-ah then Kwacha in that order by the consumers since Nkang is very tasteful, least alcoholic, least turbid, least viscous, has the most attractive colour than the others, has a significant impact on the culture of some localities in this region and as well as it is natural and nutritious. However, Nkang as well as the other two has varying organoleptic properties, unsatisfactory conservation and short shelf-life. Hence are consumed within a short period of time from their production. Because of the low alcoholic content of Nkang, the beverage is consumed by both adults (most elderly), children, those who have health problems and it is mostly preferred by some Christians though

Use of Bitter Leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) Extract and Pasteurization Aim at Improving the Sensory Quality and Shelf-life of Mpedli, a Traditional Opaque Sorghum White Beer from Northern Cameroon

“…The heating accelerates evaporation as such BPB sample became more concentrated making it more viscous (porridge), high texture with an opaque colour. Two sensory characteristics very rejected by the consumers of sorghum-based beer like mpedli [32] . Moreover, the high scores for alcoholic and acidic taste attributes of pasteurized and blended mpedli beer were also associated to the heat treatment.…”