Food in South Africa

South African food culture is a fascinating and colourful fusion of cultures and traditions that reflects the country’s rich history and ethnic diversity.

But what do they actually eat in South Africa?

From the native tribes to the influences of European and Asian immigrants, each group has contributed its own unique flavours and cooking techniques, creating a highly varied and exciting culinary scene.

In this blog post, we’ve selected 10 items (food and drink) that you simply must taste while on a tour to South Africa.

Bobotie – South Africa’s national dish

The national dish “bobotie” is a delicious stew made with lamb and lots of spices such as curry. The whole dish is baked together with eggs and milk, after which it is covered with a layer of chutney.

Bobotie has a very special and unique taste, as it has sweet, salty and spicy flavours. You can expect the dish to be served with yellow rice, fried bananas or grilled vegetables, as South Africans love to barbecue.

Biltong

One of the best-known and loved South African specialities is biltong. It is a form of dried, seasoned meat, usually beef, but it can also be made from game such as kudu or ostrich, which is cut into thin strips. Many people also know biltong as a variant of beef jerky.

Biltong is characterised by its strong flavour and is often seasoned with a mixture of vinegar, salt, sugar, coriander and other spices.

It’s more than just a snack – it’s part of the South African identity and is eaten everywhere from cities to safaris and hikes.

Braai

Another highlight of South African cuisine is “braai”, which is Afrikaans for barbecue. Afrikaans is one of South Africa’s 11 official languages.

Braai traditionally includes a variety of meats such as sausages (boerewors), lamb, chicken and steaks, which are grilled over an open fire. Side dishes might include “pap” (a thick corn porridge), “chakalaka” (a spicy mix of vegetable) and fresh salads.

Braai is more than just a barbecue – it’s a social event that brings friends and family together.

Melktert

For those with a sweet tooth, melktert is a classic. The dessert is extremely popular in South Africa, but it originally came from the Netherlands, with the Dutch bringing it to Cape Town in the 17th century.

This sweet tart is made of a velvety, milk-based filling in a crispy pastry base and topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon. It is a much-loved dessert, which is often found in homes and cafés alike around the country.

Bunny Chow

Bunny Chow is a popular street dish, originally from the South African city of Durban, which has a large Indian population.

And although the name might suggest otherwise, it’s not made with rabbit. The dish consists of a hollowed-out loaf stuffed with curry, often made with chicken, lamb or beans.

When you eat in South Africa, you can truly experience the unique flavours of the cuisine – every meal tells a story about the people, cultural influences and traditions that have shaped this unique culinary landscape.

Rusk

Rusk is a traditional South African piece of dried bread, often enjoyed as a snack or for breakfast, dipped in coffee, tea or hot chocolate.

This dried, biscuit-like delicacy arrived in South Africa with the early Dutch settlers and remains a popular part of South African culture.

Rusk is typically made by baking a cake-like dough, which is then cut into strips and dried in the oven until hard and crispy.

It comes in a number of flavours, from sweet to spicy and with different ingredients such as nuts, seeds or dried fruit.

Koeksisters

The South African koeksister is a traditional cake made from fried dough dipped in syrup or honey. The name comes from the Dutch “koek”, which means cake.

Before the dough is fried, it is plaited to give it a nice glossy surface in a beautiful pattern.

The cake is eaten with afternoon coffee, for birthdays and in some cases for breakfast.

Rooibos tea

Rooibos tea is a popular herbal tea made from the leaves of the Aspalathus Linearis plant grown in South Africa. The tea is known for its rich taste and natural sweetness. According to the South African Rooibos Council, Rooibos is also good for the health because the leaves are packed with good antioxidants that can help strengthen the body’s immune system. Some studies show that

Rooibos can even help fight cancer.

The tea is drunk all over the world, and although it is most often drunk hot as traditional tea, it can also be brewed cold as iced tea.

Chakalaka

Chakalaka is a spicy, South African vegetable relish traditionally served with stews and with bread.

There are no set ingredients in chakalaka, but some of the most popular vegetables are peppers, carrots, potatoes, spring onions and white beans.

South African wine

If you’re visiting South Africa, then you must treat yourself to a glass of exquisite South African wine. Although France, Italy, and Spain often steal the spotlight, South Africa has been producing wine since 1655. South African wine is typically mature and fruity with an earthy tone.

Most of the wine production is concentrated in Western Cape, near Cape Town. Here, the wine is divided into regions and districts, where micro climates and varied terrain give life to distinct regional wines.

The South African climate contributes to their intense flavour profiles, and you can try some incredible wines, such as sauvignon blanc, chenin blanc, and shiraz. A particular celebrity is the pinotage red wine grape, which is a mix between pinot noir and cinsault that was developed in South Africa in the 1900s.

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