Grogue (sugarcane liquor)(Cape Verde)

Name: Grogue (sugarcane liquor)(Cape Verde)
Total time: 1800 s
Yield: 4-5 people
Cuisine: Kenyan
Ingredients: 3 –4 kg fresh sugarcane stalks; 1 –2 cups water (if needed to help extract juice); Natural wild yeast from the environment or ¼ tsp brewing yeast (optional, to start fermentation)

Eva Saida @EvaButterfly

World

A traditional strong spirit from Cape Verde made by fermenting fresh sugarcane juice and distilling it into a clear, aromatic liquor often enjoyed neat or used in local cocktails.

Eva Saida @EvaButterfly

World

A traditional strong spirit from Cape Verde made by fermenting fresh sugarcane juice and distilling it into a clear, aromatic liquor often enjoyed neat or used in local cocktails.

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Ingredients

30 min prep / Fermentation 3–7 days

4-5 people

3–4 kg fresh sugarcane stalks
1–2 cups water (if needed to help extract juice)
Natural wild yeast from the environment or ¼ tsp brewing yeast (optional, to start fermentation)

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Steps

30 min prep / Fermentation 3–7 days

1

Wash the sugarcane stalks thoroughly and cut them into smaller sections. Crush or press them using a sugarcane press or heavy-duty juicer to extract the fresh juice.
2

Strain the juice through a fine sieve or cloth to remove fibers and solid pieces. The liquid should be slightly cloudy and pale green.
3

Transfer the sugarcane juice into a large clean container or fermentation vessel. If desired, add a small amount of brewing yeast to ensure fermentation starts quickly.
4

Cover the container loosely and allow it to ferment at room temperature for 3–7 days. Natural sugars in the juice convert into alcohol during this time. The liquid will become slightly foamy and develop a fermented aroma
5

After fermentation, the liquid is traditionally heated in a small copper still where the alcohol vapors are separated and condensed into a clear spirit known as grogue. The distilled liquid is collected and sometimes briefly rested before drinking.
6

Grogue is usually served in small glasses due to its high alcohol strength. It may also be used to make local drinks such as punch-style cocktails

Tips

Fresh sugarcane quality greatly affects the flavor—traditional grogue is best when made from recently harvested cane, which produces a sweeter, more aromatic spirit.

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