What is "mbege"

thumb|220px|alt=Mbege being poured|right| Mbege a traditional chagga brew

Mbege, also known as banana beer, is a traditional brew of the Chagga ethnic group of Tanzania located in Kilimanjaro region. It is an alcoholic drink made from fermented bananas. The process of making of mbege is labor-intensive and time-consuming as the majority of the process is done by hand without the aid of modern technology. The initial taste of mbege is said to be sweet and is followed by a slightly sour aftertaste.