Craigavon’s ‘ginger lady’ bottles a family legacy
Craigavon resident bottling a traditional family Gemere recipe passed down through four generations to create local brand Must Love Gemere.
A family recipe passed down through four generations is finding a new life in a bottle, thanks to Craigavon resident Thato Monaheng.
Monaheng grew up with Gemere, a traditional South African drink that has been part of her family for decades. The recipe originally belonged to her mother’s grandmother, who made it in the 1980s.
“My mother would sit in the kitchen, watch her grandmother make it, and she then copied the recipe, exact ingredients, exact measurements, and made it for us,” Monaheng said.
For her family, Gemere was more than something made at home. It became part of important family and cultural gatherings.
Read more: Diepsloot celebrates heritage weekend
“When you go to weddings, when you go to funerals, you bring something to contribute, and it was Gemere for our family,” she said.
And it rarely lasted long. “Because it’s so loved, it would just finish instantly.” When the recipe was eventually passed down to her, Monaheng decided to take the family tradition beyond the kitchen.
“I decided that I’m going to bottle it to make it look sexy and cute and, yeah, then it turned into a business,” she said.
That business became Must Love Gemere, allowing Monaheng to share a taste that has been part of her family for generations.
For her, the business is also a way of celebrating her heritage.
“It’s a much-loved family recipe. It’s got heritage, Heritage Month, four generations, so it’s our legacy, and we really would love to share this beautiful taste with everyone,” she said.
Passing on the legacy
The legacy is already being passed on to the next generation.
Also read: Folklore Festival returns for heritage month
Monaheng involves her children in the kitchen, including her five-year-old daughter, who watches as she makes Gemere at home.
“She goes up on a little step ladder when I make it in the home.” The recipe remains simple, made with four ingredients and without preservatives. “It’s all natural,” Monaheng said.
Alongside Gemere, Monaheng also makes ginger shots, continuing what has become something of a signature for her. “Everyone calls me the ginger lady now,” she said.
Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates!
