7 Authentic South African Foods

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As I arrived in beautiful South Africa, I was faced with a completely new environment. One of the best ways to adapt to it was to embrace the culture and explore the real South Africa – not just by visiting the different tourist spots but also by indulging in their authentic South African dishes. Here are some of the original South African foods, snacks, and drinks that I tried and fell in love with as I explored South Africa.

1. Biltong

Biltong is a variety of cured meat, typically made from beef and game meats. It is similar to American beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats. Biltong is widely available throughout South Africa and is a perfect authentic snack food! I also tried the spicy biltong, and it was delightful.

2. Droëwors (dri-vors)

Another authentic snack food, alongside Biltong, is droëwors. It is made by drying a thinner variant of traditional boerewors sausage. Although pork is essential in boerewors, pork, and veal can go rancid when dried, so they are usually replaced by beef.

3. Boerewors (Boo-ro-vors)

South Africans love to Braai (the South African term for BBQ), and a braai is not complete without boerewors. Boerewors, which translates to “farmer’s sausage,” is made delicious by the spices put into it. It’s considered one of the best sausages in the world!

4. Bobotie

Bobotie is a traditional South African dish that originated from Cape Malay cuisine. This dish is typically made with spiced minced meat baked with an egg-based topping. Bobotie is delicious when served with chutney, salad, and yellow rice

5. Koeksisters (kook-sisters)

These delicious South African sweet pieces of dough are usually in the shape of a plait, deep-fried in oil, and then dipped in a cold syrup mixture. Koeksisters are very rich and are usually served as a special treat or kept for festive occasions.

6. MilkTert (milk tart)

Milk tart consists of a sweet pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar, and eggs. Cinnamon is often sprinkled on its surface. Normally, you can enjoy milk tart on its own, but one time, we tried pairing it with strawberries and cream on the side of the plate, and it was divine! You should definitely try it!

Source: Tantalisemytastebuds.com . Check out the recipe here: https://www.tantalisemytastebuds.com/traditional-south-african-milk-tart/

7. Rooibos Tea (Roi-bos)

An authentic South African tea with numerous health benefits is Rooibos tea, also known as red bush tea. This tea is believed to be rich in antioxidants, making it a favorite tea drink among South Africans.