Best South African Foods
Boerewors is a South African sausage that's shaped into a coil and must contain at least 90% meat, while the other 10% consists of spices (nutmeg, allspice, cloves, black pepper...) and other ingredients. The fat in the meat must not exceed 30%.
The sausage must contain beef, but it can also have lamb, pork, or a combination of both, while offal or mechanically processed meat is forbidden. The name boerewors is derived from two words – boer, which means farmer, and wors, which means sausage.
Boerewors is traditionally grilled on the braai (South African barbecue), and it's usually served with pap and sous (sauce).
Peri peri chicken is a Mozambican dish consisting of grilled or roasted chicken that is often served with a creamy and spicy coconut sauce. Before grilling, the meat is traditionally marinated in cumin, garlic, paprika, lemon juice, and bird's eye chilis, giving the chicken a unique flavor.
The name of the dish is a Portuguese transliteration of the Swahili phrase piri piri, meaning pepper pepper, referring to the spiciness of the dish.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Potjiekos is a South African dish made by layering meat, vegetables, starches (such as potatoes, rice, or pasta), and sauce in the pot. Potjiekos is never stirred during cooking because the dish cooks slowly in order to let the steam build up. Making potjiekos is usually a social activity, since the dish is typically cooked from three to six hours.
It is prepared in small pots, hence the name. The dish dates back to the 1800s, but it is still widely consumed today.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Bunny chow is a South African dish consisting of a half or a quarter loaf of bread that is hollowed out and stuffed with curry that has been cooked with kidney beans or meats such as mutton, chicken, and lamb. It is traditionally consumed without utensils.
The dish originated in the city of Durban, and it is believed that bunny chow owes its origins to the Indian immigrants who came to South Africa in the late 19th century. Today, this cheap and filling dish has crossed borders, so it is also quite popular in the United Kingdom.
OTHER VARIATIONS OF Curry
MOST ICONIC Bunny Chow
View moreMalva pudding is a traditional dessert consisting of a pudding base covered in a creamy, sweet sauce made with water, cream, vanilla, butter, and sugar. The pudding is usually made from butter, sugar, eggs, apricot jam, milk, flour, and salt. The dessert is typically served warm, preferably with ice cream, whipped cream, or vanilla custard on the side.
It is believed that the dish is named malva pudding after the Afrikaans word malva, meaning marshmallow, referring to the similarities between marshmallows and the pudding's texture, although some say that the name is derived after the fact that the pudding used to contain Malvasia wine.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Biltong is a traditional beef snack that is cured in a unique way. The word comes from the Dutch bil, meaning hind quarter, and tong, meaning strip, in this case - a strip of meat. Although it looks similar to American beef jerky, it is quite different in flavor and the method of preparation.
The beef is dried with vinegar which cures the meat and adds layers of texture and flavor. It is seasoned with salt, pepper, and coriander, and the meat is much thicker than beef jerky. Originally, it was created out of necessity as a survival food when the Dutch settlers arrived in South Africa.
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Bobotie or bobotjie is a South African deep-dish casserole made from ground beef or lamb, herbs, spices, curry powder, fruits, and a finish of golden-brown egg custard that is scented with cinnamon or nutmeg. The dish originated from an Indonesian dish called bobotok, which was taken to South Africa in the 16th century by the Indonesians that transported spices and slaves to the country.
It is full of well-balanced flavors – sweet and fruity from the chutney, apricot jam, and sugar, spicy from curry and turmeric, sour from vinegar, and salty from the meat. Today, bobotie is so popular that it is a centerpiece of festive meals and can be found in most South African restaurants, where it is traditionally served with vegetables, yellow rice (white rice with turmeric), or steamed white rice that soaks up the rich juices oozing from the cut portions.
Vetkoek is an iconic South African street food item consisting of deep-fried yeast buns that are usually filled with cheese, curry, or fruit jams. It can be served as a small snack, for breakfast or lunch. The ball-shaped dough is made from salt, yeast, and flour.
When served at a South African braai, vetkoek is often served with boerewors, a traditional sausage. You can also serve them as they are, or with a cup of tea on the side.
Koeksister is a sweet South African snack with a sticky appearance. It is prepared by frying braided dough strips in oil, then dunking them into a cold sugary syrup. These sticky treats are sold on every major street in South Africa, and today they can even be found in most supermarkets.
It is recommended to top them with cinnamon or lemon juice before consumption.
MOST ICONIC Koeksister
View moreDroëwors is a South African dried jerky sausage based on the popular boerewors sausage. It's made from beef or mutton with sheep tail fat, coriander, vinegar, and various spices. It's sometimes enriched with garlic or chili peppers. These thin sausages are dried quickly to mimic the conditions of hot South African weather.
Some people use pork and veal instead of beef, but it's not recommended as that meat goes rancid more quickly when dried. The traditional droëwors has a long shelf life and it can be frozen for months. It's usually consumed as a quick and nutritious snack.
Best South African Food Producers
AWARDS

NYIOOC - Gold
2023

EVOOLEUM - Top 100
2023, 2022

EVOOLEUM - ABSOLUTE BEST
2023
BEST De Rustica Olive Estate Olive Oils
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024

The Liqueur Masters - Gold
2023
BEST Heineken Liqueurs
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023, 2022, 2019

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Spirit Gold
2023, 2020

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold trophy
2022, 2019, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2011, 2007
BEST KWV SA Spirits
Amarula is a renowned South African brand produced by Distell Group Ltd that has built its identity around the unique marula fruit, which grows wild across sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1989, Amarula is celebrated for its cream liqueur, made by distilling marula fruit into a spirit, blending it with cream, and infusing it with flavors that reflect the spirit of Africa.
This liqueur is globally recognized for its smooth, fruity taste and creamy texture, symbolized by the iconic elephant logo that pays homage to the elephants who consume the marula fruit in the wild. Amarula has expanded its range to include other innovative products, such as Amarula Ethiopian Coffee and Amarula African Gin, which use marula as a central ingredient while incorporating regional botanicals and flavors.
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2024, 2023

The Liqueur Masters - Gold
2023

The Gin Masters - Gold
2022
BEST Amarula Spirits and Liqueurs
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2023, 2022, 2019

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2024, 2023, 2022, 2020

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2021
BEST Cederberg Wines Wines
AWARDS

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2024, 2022, 2021
AWARDS

IWSC- International wine & spirit competition - Gold
2019

Concours Mondial de Bruxelles - Grande Médaille d'or
2024, 2023, 2022, 2020
AWARDS

USA Wine Ratings - Gold
2021, 2020
BEST Du Toitskloof Wines Wines
Worcester is located in the Western Cape province of South Africa and is part of the Breede Valley Municipality. The region has a climate well-suited for olive cultivation, with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters, which supports olive oil production.
Worcester producers benefit from the fertile Breede River Valley and use both traditional and modern techniques to produce high-quality olive oil.
Mardouw Investments is an olive oil producer located in Swellendam, South Africa. The company cultivates and processes olives on its own estate, ensuring full control over the production quality. Mardouw Investments employs modern techniques and equipment for olive oil extraction, emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The estate features a variety of olive cultivars, allowing them to produce different blends and single-varietal oils.
AWARDS

NYIOOC - Gold
2023

London IOOC - Platinum
2021
BEST Mardouw Investments Olive Oils
Best South African Food Products
DE RUSTICA ESTATE COLLECTION CORATINA is an olive oil product made by De Rustica Olive Estate. Known for its robust and intense flavor, this olive oil is produced from the Coratina variety of olives, which are renowned for their high polyphenol content and strong, fruity characteristics.
The oil boasts a well-balanced profile with hints of bitterness and spiciness, making it suitable for enhancing the flavors of various dishes, from salads to grilled meats. De Rustica Olive Estate is situated in the picturesque region of the Western Cape in South Africa, where the climate and soil conditions are ideal for olive cultivation.
AWARDS

EVOOLEUM - Top 100
2023, 2022

EVOOLEUM - ABSOLUTE BEST
2023

EVOOLEUM - BEST OF CLASS
2023
AWARDS

OLIVINUS - Gran Prestigio Oro
2023, 2022
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Gold
2024
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
AWARDS

Decanter World Wine Awards - Best in Show
2024
AWARDS

World Cheese Awards - Super Gold
2024
Rio Largo – Premium is a high-quality olive oil produced by Rio Largo Olive Estate. This estate is known for its dedication to sustainable farming and meticulously crafted olive oils. The Premium variety is distinguished by its robust flavor profile, which balances fruitiness with a peppery finish.
The estate employs traditional and modern extraction techniques to ensure that the oil retains its natural antioxidants and health benefits. Rio Largo Olive Estate prioritizes quality over quantity, using handpicked olives and cold extraction processes to maintain the highest standards.
AWARDS

Flos Olei - The Best
2023
AWARDS

SFWSC - San Francisco World Spirits Competition - Double Gold
2023
AWARDS

ISC-International Spirits Challenge - Double Gold
2023










TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.