What is Omaere and how is it consumed?

What is omaere?

Omaere is a fermented dairy product from Namibia, made by acidifying buttermilk (soured milk). The word is used in Otjiherero, the Herero language. The same type of drink has other names: omashikwa in Ovambo and mpofu in Rukwangali. It is made especially in the Kunene, Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions of Namibia and in Botswana, mainly by the Ovaherero, Himba and Mbanderu peoples. It is a soured milk drink, not a plant-based one.

How is omaere made?

In traditional Herero culture, women milk the cows and make omaere, and girls learn the process at a young age. Exact home methods differ between families, and we did not find a standard published recipe, so we do not give one. A mass-produced version is also sold.

How is omaere eaten?

• With porridge: Herero and some other groups usually eat it with cooked maize-meal porridge, called oruhere.
• As a drink: many other groups drink it daily.

It is now popular in many households across Namibia and Southern Africa.

What does omaere taste like?

We found no reliable published taste description. As a soured milk, expect a sour, tangy dairy flavor and a thicker texture than milk, and expect commercial versions to vary by brand. Check the label of any product you buy.

Where can you buy omaere?

In Namibia it is sold as a mass-produced product. Outside southern Africa it is hard to find. If you cannot get it, plain cultured buttermilk or kefir is a rough substitute in the sense that all are soured milks, not a replica.

Is it safe to drink?

Choose pasteurized, commercially made versions if you are unsure about home-soured milk, especially for children, pregnant people and anyone with a weak immune system. It is dairy, so it is not suitable for people with a milk allergy. This is general information, not medical advice.