Sweetened cultured drinking yoghurt sold in flavoured sachets, and a genuine Namibian institution — the sachet is torn at the corner and drunk on the spot. It is a commercial dairy product rather than a homestead one.
It is a branded dairy product made on a chilled filling line to a producer’s formulation, with a stabiliser system that is what keeps it drinkable rather than separated.
What goes into it
- cow’s milk
- a yoghurt starter culture
- sugar
- fruit flavouring
- stabiliser
How it is made
Milk is pasteurised, standardised for fat, and inoculated with a yoghurt culture that ferments it to a set consistency. It is then stirred smooth, sweetened, flavoured, stabilised so it will not separate, and filled into sealed sachets on a chilled line.
How long it takes: hours to culture; sold chilled within days
How it is eaten
Cold, torn open at the corner and drunk straight from the sachet.
History
Made in Namibia since the 1980s and so widespread that the brand name now means drinking yoghurt nationwide.
Frequently asked questions
What is Oshikandela?
Oshikandela is a cheese & dairy from Namibia: sweetened cultured drinking yoghurt sold in flavoured sachets. Made in Namibia since the 1980s and so widespread that the brand name now means drinking yoghurt nationwide.
How is Oshikandela made?
Milk is pasteurised, standardised for fat, and inoculated with a yoghurt culture that ferments it to a set consistency. It is then stirred smooth, sweetened, flavoured, stabilised so it will not separate, and filled into sealed sachets on a chilled line. It takes hours to culture; sold chilled within days.
Can I make Oshikandela at home?
No, and the atlas gives no method for it. It is a branded dairy product made on a chilled filling line to a producer’s formulation, with a stabiliser system that is what keeps it drinkable rather than separated.
What goes into Oshikandela?
Cow’s milk, a yoghurt starter culture, sugar, fruit flavouring, stabiliser.
How is Oshikandela eaten?
Cold, torn open at the corner and drunk straight from the sachet.
