Whiskypiri
Malhangalene’s best-kept secret
The recipe is as secret as that of Coca-Cola, or of the pastéis de Belém, and there have been several attempts to replicate this hot sauce, none of them successful.
Germannie (Gerry) has always been passionate about Mozambican cuisine and, naturally, also a devotee of the national fiery elixir. At the gatherings she organised at home for friends, it was common for some to bring “takeaways” so they could leave with a little of her piri-piri. The demand was such that it led her to take the next step: perfecting her product, so that it would truly stand apart from the others on the market. It was the unique blend of whisky that gave it its unique, refined flavour, making it even more appreciated.
Gerry recalls that a small episode that caused a momentary disagreement between her and her partner was decisive for what she presents to us today: “On a journey back from Tofo to Maputo, I wanted to stop to buy the famous piri-piri from Nhacoongo. Miguel refused, arguing that the hot sauce I made was better. I was left without my beloved piri-piri, but a dream was born from it.”
Whiskypiri is the registered trademark of a homemade, limited-production product, made with the greatest care and with the best chillies. Gerry is a regular customer at the markets, and this guarantees her the best hot peppers: jalapeño, habanero, dried piri-piri, chilli, piripíri sacana are some of the ingredients of her culinary delight, along with a secret ingredient, which she did not want to reveal, not even off the record, so that it would remain a secret. The exact consistency took years to perfect and the result presented to the public today is the fruit of countless experiments. Perhaps that is why this refined piri-piri is so difficult to replicate. The secret ingredient, and the formula, also secret, make Whiskypiri unique on the market.
The brand itself, Whiskypiri by Gerry, was born after a bottle of Bourbon suffered a sudden drop in level while Gerry was preparing her mixtures in an attempt to refine the product. This did not go unnoticed by her partner, who suggested she start using a more everyday whisky.
Whiskypiri, this fiery innovation, already has a vast legion of fans who cannot do without it and who, besides consuming it, give it to friends, even taking it abroad. The flavour of Mozambique’s emblem, perfected with a touch of Jameson, already spices up the palates of many families, not only in our country but also in Brazil, Angola, Portugal and even the USA.
But Gerry did not stop at Whiskypiri, which she presents in two varieties, green and red, prepared with the respective chillies. The demand for a hot sauce without alcohol led her to another innovation, and today she also offers customers a varied range of hot sauces made from seasonal produce, such as beetroot piri-piri, carrot piri-piri and another made from pineapple, which are equally well liked.
For just 500 meticais you can buy a 400 ml jar of Whiskypiri at the shop “Daqui produtos regionais”, near the Hotel Terminus, in Maputo, or through the Instagram page @whisky_piri_by_gerry. Here is a tip: try it and you will not regret it.
