Family : Mesembryanthemaceae
Common name : `Khadi root'.
Also called `moerwortel' or `moerwortelvygie'.
`Moer' means yeast and `wortel' means root; these mesembs were used to enhance the fermentation process of the brewing of traditional beers like honey and sorghum beer.
The fleshy rootstock of this mesemb is an important fermentation agent in beer brewing. Khadi is the original name for a type of beer in which the root is used as a source of yeast. The fermenting ability of khadi root has been ascribed to the presence of fungi. There are possibly mesembrine-type alkaloids in the root, which may contribute to the intoxicating properties. The name `khadi' has been extended to several other plants with fleshy rootstocks used in a similar way, such as Raphionacme hirsute.