Meat
Biltong
Biltong is a Southern African dried meat product made by curing strips of beef or game with salt, vinegar, and spices before air drying. Unlike jerky, it is typically thicker, less sweet, and prized for its chewy texture and concentrated savoury flavour. Traditionally prepared for preservation and travel, biltong remains a popular snack and pantry staple across South Africa and neighbouring countries. Source meat, cut, and spice blend all influence the final eating quality.
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History
Dutch settlers and indigenous preservation practices combined vinegar curing with air drying to create early forms of biltong in southern Africa.
Voortrekker journeys relied on dried meat for long overland travel, entrenching biltong in South African food culture.
Commercial biltong production expanded in butcheries and became a standard snack food across South Africa.
Biltong gained international popularity as a high-protein snack, with beef, venison, and exotic game varieties exported worldwide.