With Heritage Day around the corner, what better time to celebrate all things South African? As a diverse nation, we all have unique tastes, but the one thing that we can agree on is what our quintessential South African food pantry items are. We look at some of the most iconic South African food brands and items that should be in your kitchen cupboard.
South African Food We Love
We can’t do without these food items…
All Gold Tomato Sauce
Made with 36 tomatoes and an unlimited amount of love, All Gold will always have a spot on our shelf.
Mrs Balls Chutney
Whether you like it spicy, peachy or classic, there’s nothing that reminds us of the taste of home like old Mrs B’s blatjang.
Mielie Pap
The finely ground maize meal works hard as both a sweet and savoury dish. What would breakfast or braai be without it?
Chakalaka
While we’re on the subject of pap, you simply can’t have it without chakalaka. The fiery relish is a necessity on top of pap.
Peri Peri Sauce
Some people make theirs, some buy it ready-made. No matter how you get your fix, peri-peri sauce is right up there with tomato sauce in the pantry-staple department.
Aromat
Good for you? Debatable. Delicious? Absolutely! We’ve upgraded from simply sprinkling the ‘general purpose’ seasoning over eggs to using it as popcorn flavouring. Don’t tell mom.
Ouma Rusks
If you had a cup of coffee and didn’t “dip ‘n Ouma,” did that coffee even happen?
Try our LCHF Pumpkin Seed & Nut Rusks recipe or this Buttermilk and Bran Rusk recipe.
Fig Konfyt
We’re quite serious about our cheese, and serious cheese calls for serious accoutrements, where only fig konfyt will do.
Brandy
No introduction needed. We’re all partial to a Brandy & Coke, even if we’ll never admit it.
Ultra Mel Custard
It’s like they boxed up the flavour of childhood happiness.
Koo Apricot Jam
This tastes so good, even grannies all over the country passed this off as their own.
Biltong
Probably the quintessential South African food, if ever there was one. A household staple — we’ve even known the odd vegetarian to gnaw on a snapstick.
Condensed Milk
What else would South Africans use to over-sweeten their coffee? It’s also the perfect addition to these Moerkoffie Cookies.
Rooibos Tea
If ever there was a national treasure, this would be it! While it is, of course, a drink, our list of South African pantry staples would not be complete without it. Not only is it delicious, it has remarkable health benefits too.
Maltabella
Now discontinued, this hearty, creamy, sorghum-based porridge is what powered most school children through until lunchtime.
Black Cat Peanut Butter
What else would you put on your witbrood sarmie?
Peppermint Crisp
Potentially the single most important chocolate for South Africans, and forms part of an iconic dessert – the classic Peppermint Crisp tart.
Jimmy’s Braai Sauce
Almost a non-negotiable when throwing a chop on the braai.
Castle Lager
It’s refreshing, crisp and a stock standard at nearly every organised sports game.
Nik Naks
They’re cheesy, they’re crispy and they coat your fingers with weird orange dust. What’s not to love?
Creme Soda
As a kid, it was a weekend treat. As an adult, it’s a weekend hangover cure also known as a ‘green ambulance.’
Samp
The chunky, comforting, anytime dish always has a place in our pantry. A South African food staple, for sure.
Oros
The taste of childhood and reminiscent of sports day when it was served in large plastic dispensers.
*See how some of these South African foods fare when Americans try out our ‘weirdest’ and most wonderful foods.
