The Rice Beer of the North
In the Sahelian regions where sorghum may be scarce, brewers substitute it with rice to produce Cochette. It follows the same complex indigenous malting and brewing processes as Bil-bil but results in a beverage with its own distinct character and demographic following.
Malted rice is the primary cereal base. Like Bil-bil, it may incorporate botanical bittering agents like neem leaves or Cissus quadrangularis fragments depending on the brewer's preference.
The production process mirrors that of Bil-bil (malting, milling, boiling 'la claire', and fermentation) but uses rice as the starch source. The fermentation length is meticulously monitored by the female brewer to achieve the desired balance of sweetness and acidity.
Lighter in body and color than sorghum-based Bil-bil. It possesses a subtler flavor profile with a clean, slightly floral finish characteristic of fermented rice.
Cochette represents the agricultural adaptability of Northern Cameroonian brewers. By utilizing rice when sorghum is unavailable, they ensure the continuity of the saré à bilbil (cabaret) culture regardless of seasonal cereal fluctuations.
It is particularly favored by patrons who prefer a slightly milder, less intensely bitter beverage than traditional djigari-based sorghum beer.
Discover the regions where this traditional beverage is most celebrated.
Produced in urban and rural cabarets alongside or as a substitute for sorghum beer.
Consumed across Sahelian communities as a popular traditional fermented beverage.
Explore other traditional Cameroonian beverages.
Opaque sorghum beer from Northern Cameroon, central to the saré à bilbil (cabaret) culture. A political and social democratic valve.
Traditional maize beer from the Grassfields, brewed by women through a complex multi-stage fermentation. A critical driver of the informal economy.
A slightly sparkling, tangy fermented tea from the Far North. Biologically identical to kombucha, it's a vital rural health tonic.
Cameroon has a rich heritage of traditional beverages. Explore our full collection to learn about each unique drink.