Biltong

Why it's worth your time

The practice of drying meat predates European settlement — the Khoekhoe and San cured game in the wind and sun long before the first Dutch ships landed. The Voortrekkers adopted it for the Great Trek, and the name comes from the Dutch bil (rump) and tong (strip). Today it's the country's universal snack, made from beef most often, though game and ostrich are common. Buy it from a proper butchery, not a supermarket packet: it should be dry outside, still moist inside, and heavy on the pepper. Atlas Trading in Cape Town's Bo-Kaap is a reliable stop.