A Taste of South Africa: Local Snacks, Sweets & Treats You Have to Try

From biltong and droëwors picked up at a little farm shop along the road to a slice of melktert with your afternoon coffee, there’s plenty to discover. Some are proud traditions, others are supermarket favourites, and a few are simply little bites of South African nostalgia.

Here are some of our favourites.

Biltong

No list of South African snacks is complete without biltong. This air-dried, seasoned meat is usually made from beef or game and left to mature and dry after being spiced.

You’ll find it everywhere, from butcheries and farm shops to supermarkets and airports. Try it thinly sliced as a snack, or seek out traditionally made biltong for a truly authentic experience.

Droëwors

Droëwors is biltong’s thinner, snackier cousin. Made from seasoned sausage that’s dried rather than cooked, it’s particularly popular on road trips, around the braai or whenever someone opens a packet and says, “Just one.”

Traditionally made from beef or game, it has a wonderfully savoury flavour with a gentle hint of spice.

Boerewors

Boerewors may not be dried, but it definitely deserves a place on this list. This traditional South African sausage is made from coarsely minced meat and spices, and it’s an essential part of the classic South African braai.

Grill it over an open fire, tuck it into a roll with sauce or serve it with pap and relish. Just don’t call it an ordinary sausage.

Koeksisters

South Africa actually has two quite different treats called koeksisters, but the traditional Cape Malay version is particularly worth seeking out. These sweet, spiced pastries are braided, deep-fried and dipped in syrup, making them sticky, aromatic and very difficult to resist.

Often associated with Cape Malay cooking, they’re a delicious example of how South Africa’s culinary traditions have been shaped by a variety of cultural influences.

Melktert

Melktert simply means “milk tart”, but there’s nothing simple about how delicious it can be. A delicate pastry shell is filled with creamy milk custard and topped with a generous dusting of cinnamon.

It’s one of those quintessentially South African desserts that feels just as at home at a family gathering as it does alongside a cup of coffee.

Malva Pudding

Malva pudding is warm, sweet, soft and utterly unapologetic. This baked sponge pudding is usually served with a rich, creamy sauce that soaks into the cake.

Add custard or ice cream, and you have one of South Africa’s ultimate comfort-food desserts. It’s especially good after a long day of exploring, when dessert suddenly feels absolutely essential.

NikNaks

Bright orange, crunchy and instantly recognisable, NikNaks are an institution on South Africa’s snack shelves. These cheese-flavoured maize snacks have been around for generations and have practically achieved cult status.

They’re not sophisticated. They’re not trying to be. They’re simply, unmistakably South African.

Chuckles

If you have a sweet tooth, keep an eye out for Chuckles at Woolworths. These chocolate-coated malt balls come in a colourful mix of chocolate, honeycomb and other sweet flavours, and they’re dangerously easy to polish off.

Perfect for a little sugar boost on a road trip or as a stash of treats to take home.

Ostrich

South Africa is one of the world’s major ostrich producers, so this is your chance to try something you might not find on the shelves back home.

Ostrich steak is lean, tender and surprisingly mild in flavour, while ostrich biltong offers a different twist on the classic South African snacking tradition. If you spot it on a menu, give it a try.

Simba Mrs Balls Chutney Chips

Now we’re getting properly South African. Simba chips are a local favourite, and the Mrs Balls Chutney flavour combines crunchy potato crisps with the sweet, tangy taste of one of the country’s best-known chutneys.

You’ll either become an instant fan or wonder what South Africans have been doing to their crisps. Either way, you have to try them.

Bobotie

Bobotie is a South African classic with Cape Malay roots, made with spiced minced meat topped with a savoury egg-based custard. The combination of sweet, savoury and aromatic spices makes it one of the country’s most distinctive dishes.

Traditionally served with yellow rice and a selection of sambals, it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to explore something a little more substantial than a snack.

Peppermint Crisp Tart

This is South African dessert engineering at its finest. A creamy mixture of caramel, whipped cream and crushed Peppermint Crisp chocolate is layered into a chilled dessert and left to set before serving.

Sweet, cold, creamy and with a little crunch, it’s incredibly easy to love. You might want to share it, but we won’t judge you if you don’t.

Hertzoggies

Hertzoggies are little tartlets filled with apricot jam and coconut, baked until golden. Deeply rooted in South African baking traditions, they’re particularly popular alongside an afternoon cup of tea or coffee.

The combination of sweet apricot and coconut makes them a delightful introduction to the country’s home-baked treats.

Let Us Show You the Way

The best way to experience South African food is to eat where the locals do. From traditional bakeries and butcheries to farm shops, markets, restaurants and little roadside stops, some of the best food experiences aren’t necessarily the ones you’ll find in a guidebook.