South African shops are full of variety and fusion. Visiting South Africa is a lifetime memory for the food, gaming lodges, wild-life experience, and witnessing nature from a very close perspective. According to a careful estimate, more than 10 million tourists visit South Africa every year. This number of travelers from across the globe also helps South African shops and local businesses. If we talk specifically about the taste of South Africa, it is a fusion of centuries-old African traditional cuisine fused with Dutch, French, Malay, and Indian.
There are several shops and malls in South Africa where you can find delicious, traditional, and quality food items of your choice. Main cities of South Africa like Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, and others have several shops, restaurants, and malls. The food available in these shops is delicious and a symbol of Afrikaans culture.
Tourists can enjoy premium quality food, snacks, wine, beer, and other popular drinks of global standard. Even small towns have small bakeries and stores that provide quality food items to visitors.
Top 10 Most Popular Food Items in South African Shops
Biltong
Biltong is the most loved South African food item. Local people mostly eat it as a snack. It is dried, cured, and spiced meat, usually beef. Almost all social gatherings in South Africa have this item on the serving table. Biltong is salted meat cuts that are soaked and dried. The method is centuries-old to preserve meat. People enjoy eating Biltong with generous layers of fat.
Boerewors (Farmer Sausage)
The Boerewors may look like plain sausages, but the process is culturally acclaimed and an authentic one. It contains 90% meat mixed with 10% spices and other ingredients. The minced mixture contains spices like nutmeg, cloves, coriander, and other traditional spices of Africa. They give it a shape, and the sausages are cooked over barbeque until they get hard. You cannot store Boerewors without refrigeration.
Bokkoms
One of the most popular food items you find in South African shops is Bokkoms. Bokkoms are salted and dried mullets (a type of fish). It is one of the most popular foods available in South African shops. The salted fish is left in the sun and open-air for days until completely dried. People like to eat it after peeling the skin from the dried and hard fish. It is locally called fish biltong.
Bobotie
Bobotie is a traditional African dish. The dish has a Cape Malay influence. The curry has turmeric and almonds. It has a tasty mixture of seasoned meat and fruit with a creamy golden topping of an egg.
Koeksisters
It is a crunchy dessert and popular tea-time snack. Koeksisters are first deep-fried then soaked in sugar syrup. These are hard and crispy from the outside and are soft and sweet inside. Koeksisters are a favorite regional snack. There is a status of Koeksister in Orania to pay tribute to bakers. At some shops, it has a topping of desiccated coconut too.
Melktert
Like Milk Tarts, it is a dessert made with eggs, sugar, milk, and flour. It is commonly available in South African bakeries. Cinnamon sprinkle at the top adds to the flavor of Melktert.
Malva Pudding
Malva Pudding is a South African trademark. It is a soft, spongy, and moist cake. Commonly available in South African shops, it is popular among locals. It contains apricot jam. People enjoy it with a heavy cream topping.
Potjiekos
Like Hot pot in China, Potjiekos also means food cooked in one pot. It is a delicious traditional Afrikaner recipe. Meat, cauliflower, onions, cabbage, pumpkin, and rice starch cooked together with spices. It is a healthy fusion of flavor and tradition. Traditionally they cook it in a round-shaped cast-iron pit over the fire. It is loved by many South Africans and popular among tourists.
Vetkoek
It is a traditional bread commonly available in South African shops. Vetkoek is also known as fat cake. It has a filling of minced curry. It has a crispy texture from the outside. Fluffy, soft, and delicious from the inside.
Chakalaka & pap
Chakalaka and pap are popular dishes on the South African dinner table. Chakalaka is a vegan recipe having tomatoes, onions, peppers, beans, carrots, and spices. The tradition is to serve it cold. Sometimes, people compliment it with traditional porridge. Pap refers to porridge which is a starchy dish of corn. Chakalaka and pap complement each other.
Conclusion
South Africa Flavors are mouthwatering. The food available in South African shops and bakeries has a fusion taste. Malaysian, Indian, French, and Mexican tastes have greatly influenced South African food and snacks. They cook meat, vegetables, local spices, and snacks. Traditional recipes are popular. However, the fusion of different ingredients makes the recipes a new flavor.
To get all the ingredients for these delicious meals, visit Cape To Cairo.
If you plan to visit South Africa, their food will give you a delicious experience, and you can enjoy the taste for a long time in your memory.