A SEED TO SPOON AGRITOURISM TRAIL IN GHANA'S VOLTA REGION
Palm Wine & Akpeteshi
Palm Wine & Akpeteshi Tour
Fresh palm wine, known as dēhã in Eʋegbe, is the sweet sap tapped from palm trees. Non-alcoholic when freshly tapped, within hours, the liquid begins fermenting into a tangy, fruity beverage similar to a naturally fermented soda. In this early stage, palm wine becomes fizzy and can contain between 0.1% to 1% alcohol. Let ferment over multiple days, the flavor sharpens and sours slightly into a mildly intoxicating beverage. Palm wine is commonly served at weddings, birth celebrations, funerals, festivals, and poured as libations respecting ancestors.
In Kpenoe, palm wine is first fermented in large barrels over seven days. Once it reaches 9% alcohol, It is distilled into akpeteshie, a high alcohol content spirit, typically between 40 and 50% alcohol by volume.
People in this area have been tapping palm wine and distilling akpeteshie for generations. During the period of British colonization, it was outlawed yet remained commonplace. The name akpeteshie is derived from the Ga language and means the act of hiding, or they are hiding. Today, akpeteshie is an economically important, locally-distilled spirit. It is the national spirit of Ghana.
In the Volta Region, the African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), indigenous to West and Southwest Africa, is the principal source of red palm oil, palm wine, and akpeteshie. The entire tree is used for a variety of purposes, food, oil, construction, weaving, medicine, traditional religious purposes, biofuel, palm wine, and akpeteshi.
What Will You Experience?
The oil palm tree has a commercial, productive lifespan of 25 to 30 years. It starts bearing fruit roughly three to four years after planting, with palm fruit production peaking between seven and 18 years of age. Oil palms are typically replanted every 25-30 years for harvest efficiency. When oil palm trees reach the end of their productive lifespan, the process of tapping begins with identifying suitable trees, uprooting them carefully, then preparing the tree for tapping.
This tour will cover African oil palm tree growing, harvesting, production of foodstuffs, and other uses of the tree. We will also have a brief explanation of how farmers know that the tree is toward the end of its life and ready to be tapped.
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Engage in palm tapping, palm wine production, and see akpeteshi distilling.
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Learn about the edible parts of tree and non-edible parts used for construction.
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Observe examples of palm being used for construction, tools, etc.
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Learn about what is done with the remaining tree trunk after tapping.
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Some may wish to purchase akpeteshi to take home.
Because of the seasonal nature of agriculture, some aspects of planting, harvesting, and production will be out of season; however, we will engage with growers and producers who are prepared to share their insider knowledge.
