Southern Africa · Drink
Buganu (Fermented Marula Fruit Wine)
A golden, naturally effervescent wild wine crafted from ripe marula fruits, boasting a rich tropical aroma and a sharp alcoholic punch.
The story
In the Lowveld region of Eswatini, Buganu marks the peak of late summer and is celebrated at the royal residences of Buhleni and Hlane during the annual Marula Festival. Harvested predominantly by women from wild Sclerocarya birrea trees, this sacred drink is presented to Their Majesties before widespread consumption begins across the kingdom. Technically, the natural wild yeasts residing on the thick yellow marula skins drive spontaneous anaerobic fermentation without any commercial pitch, yielding an ascorbic-acid-rich brew with an ABV between 4% and 7%.
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