Few debates get a Nigerian or Ghanaian family going quite like Malta Guinness vs Maltina vs Supermalt. Everyone has a favourite, everyone remembers which one was served at their cousin's wedding, and everyone is convinced the others are "too sweet" or "too flat". In the UK, all three sit side by side in African and Caribbean shops, and if you did not grow up with them it can be hard to know what the difference actually is.
This guide puts the three best-known malt drinks side by side. We look at what a malt drink is, where each brand comes from, how they taste, what is in them, and how to serve them, so you can choose the right one for a party, a family table or simply a cold can on a hot afternoon.
What is a malt drink?
A malt drink, sometimes called malta or malt soda, is a non-alcoholic, carbonated drink brewed from barley malt, water and hops, much like the early stages of making beer, but without fermenting it into alcohol. Sugar or glucose syrup is usually added, which gives it a sweet, toffee-like, slightly bitter flavour and a dark brown colour. For a deeper look at how malt drinks are made, see Malta Guinness explained: what malt drinks actually are.
Malt drinks are hugely popular across West Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. In Nigeria and Ghana in particular they are served at parties, weddings, naming ceremonies and Christmas gatherings, and they are a common choice for guests who do not drink alcohol and for children.
An important point for UK readers: malt drinks are non-alcoholic. They are often mistaken for a beer or stout because of the Guinness name and the dark colour, but they are soft drinks. Always check the label, as with any product, but the mainstream brands discussed here are marketed as non-alcoholic.
The three contenders
Malta Guinness
Malta Guinness is made under the Guinness brand and is the best-known malt drink in Nigeria. It has a deep, rich malt flavour with noticeable sweetness and a gentle bitterness from the hops. Many people describe it as tasting "fuller" or "heavier" than other malts.
In the UK, Malta Guinness is available in 330ml cans and glass bottles, and some supermarkets now carry small multipacks in their world foods aisles. For parties and regular household use, most families buy it by the case.
What is in it? According to published nutrition data for Malta Guinness 330ml, it contains around 56 to 57 kcal and about 11g of sugars per 100ml, with carbohydrates at around 14g per 100ml and no fat. That works out at roughly 185 to 190 kcal and around 36g of sugars per 330ml can. Some labels also list added B vitamins.
Maltina
Maltina is produced by Nigerian Breweries and is Malta Guinness's main rival in Nigeria. Fans say it is slightly lighter and smoother, with a creamier finish, while Malta Guinness drinkers tend to find it a little less intense. Maltina also has a strong family-focused brand image in Nigeria and is a common sight at children's parties.
In the UK, Maltina is harder to find than Malta Guinness or Supermalt and tends to be stocked by specialist African grocers rather than mainstream retailers. If you see it, check the nutrition panel on the can or bottle for current sugar levels, as recipes and labelling can differ between markets.
Supermalt
Supermalt is brewed in Denmark and has been a familiar name in the UK's African and Caribbean communities for decades. Because it is made in Europe, it is often the easiest of the three to find in British high street shops, corner shops and some supermarkets.
Supermalt has a slightly different character: many people find it a touch lighter and less bitter, with a more rounded sweetness. It is particularly popular in Caribbean households in the UK. As always, check the nutrition panel on the specific can you buy.
Side-by-side comparison
| Malta Guinness | Maltina | Supermalt | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly associated with | Nigeria, Ghana | Nigeria | UK African and Caribbean communities |
| Flavour (common description) | Rich, full, sweet with hop bitterness | Smooth, slightly lighter, creamy finish | Rounded, sweet, less bitter |
| Alcohol | Non-alcoholic | Non-alcoholic | Non-alcoholic |
| Typical UK formats | 330ml cans and bottles, cases of 24 | Cans and bottles from specialist grocers | 330ml cans and bottles, multipacks |
| How easy to find in the UK | Specialist grocers, some supermarkets, online | Mainly specialist grocers | Widely available |
Flavour descriptions are subjective, and the best way to settle the argument is a blind taste test, which we explain below.
Is malt drink healthy?
This is one of the most searched questions about malt drinks, and it deserves a straight answer. Malt drinks are soft drinks. They contain no alcohol and no fat, and some brands add B vitamins, but they are also sweet, high-energy drinks.
For context, the UK's front-of-pack labelling uses 11.25g of sugars per 100ml as the threshold above which a drink is classed as "high" (red) for sugar. Malta Guinness, at around 11g per 100ml, sits just below that line, in the amber "medium" band, but a full 330ml can still contains around 36g of sugars. The NHS recommends that adults have no more than 30g of free sugars a day.
None of this means you cannot enjoy a malt drink. It simply means treating it as you would any other sweet soft drink: something for a meal, a celebration or a treat rather than as a substitute for water. If you are watching your sugar intake, check labels for lower-sugar options, share a can, or serve smaller glasses at parties. Anyone with a medical condition that affects how they handle sugar should follow the advice of their GP or dietitian.
How to serve malt drinks
- Ice cold. Malt drinks taste noticeably sweeter and heavier when warm. Chill the cans for several hours, or serve over plenty of ice.
- With evaporated or condensed milk. In Nigeria, Ghana and across the Caribbean, many people pour malt into a glass and stir in a little evaporated milk. It sounds unusual if you have not tried it, but the result is creamy, a bit like a malted milkshake. Start with a tablespoon per glass.
- With food. Malt drinks are a classic partner to jollof rice, fried rice, small chops, suya and party chicken. The sweetness cuts through spicy and smoky flavours.
- At parties. For an owambe, naming ceremony or Christmas gathering, plan on roughly one to two cans per guest, especially if you are also serving soft drinks and water. Buying by the case is far easier than picking up multipacks.
Run your own blind taste test
If your family cannot agree which malt is best, settle it properly:
- Chill one can of each brand to the same temperature.
- Ask someone who is not taking part to pour each into identical glasses and label the bottoms A, B and C.
- Taste each in turn, with a sip of water in between.
- Score each one out of 10 for sweetness, bitterness, fizz and overall enjoyment.
- Reveal the labels.
It is a fun party activity, and you may be surprised by which one comes out on top.
Storing malt drinks at home
A case of 24 lasts a while in most households, so it is worth storing it properly. Keep unopened cans and bottles somewhere cool and dark, away from radiators and direct sunlight, as heat can dull the flavour over time. Check the best-before date printed on the base of the can or the neck of the bottle and rotate older stock to the front. Once opened, a malt drink loses its fizz quickly, so it is best finished the same day. If you are preparing for a party, move the cans into the fridge the night before rather than relying on ice on the day; a fully chilled can tastes cleaner and less syrupy.
Malt drinks in cooking
Malt drinks are not only for drinking. Some cooks use a splash of Malta Guinness in marinades for chicken or ribs, where the malt sugars help with caramelisation, and others reduce it with a little ginger and pepper into a sticky glaze. It can also be used in place of some of the liquid in a dark fruit cake or a malt loaf for extra depth. As with any sweet ingredient, add it gradually and taste as you go.
So which is best?
There is no single winner, because it depends on what you like:
- Choose Malta Guinness if you like a rich, full-bodied malt with a noticeable hop bite, and you want the taste most Nigerians associate with parties back home.
- Choose Maltina if you prefer a smoother, slightly lighter malt and you can find it locally.
- Choose Supermalt if you want the easiest to find in UK shops, or a rounded, slightly less bitter sweetness.
For many Nigerian households in the UK, though, Malta Guinness remains the one that tastes like home.
Where to find these in the UK
If Malta Guinness is your choice, buying it by the case saves trips to the shop and keeps you ready for guests. At RegiPay Stores we sell Malta Guinness by the case of 24 x 330ml cans, delivered across the UK. If you are stocking up for a family or a gathering, the Indomie and Malta Family Box pairs a full case of Malta Guinness with a box of 40 Indomie noodles, and the Olu Olu Plantain Chips box makes an easy snack to serve alongside.
