Must Try South African Food in Cape Town | Foodie Guide
Cape Town has a plethora of amazing eateries with gourmet food and fine wines. As a cosmopolitan city, it is the best place for you to savour diverse cuisines with African, Dutch, French, Indian and Southeast Asian influences. Here are some must try South African food in Cape Town which will satisfy your taste buds. Brace yourself, foodies!
Rooibos Tea
The right way to pronounce Rooibos is “Roy-Boss” if you are wondering how to say it. Rooibos tea is a type of Redbush plant that is native to South Africa. The aromatic taste is very similar to Chinese herbal tea as it has the earthy and chocolaty flavours. You should really try it.
Being a type of caffeine-free tea, it is very delicious and healthy. Besides, people also use Rooibos to make flavoured beverages like lattes and cocktails. Rooibos tea has a lot of health benefits. It can prevent you from getting heart diseases, cancer and stroke. The fact that it is rich in antioxidants will also make you look younger, maintain your weight and promote healthy skin. Rooibos tea is definitely the signature of South Africa. Some people don’t fancy the unique taste but you will only know when you take a sip!
Exotic Game Meat
South Africa is a meat lover’s paradise. If you want to try game meat, there is no other best place in the world than South Africa where people legally hunt different types of game for consumption. Some examples are Venison, Antelope, Warthog, Crocodile and more.
Game meat is marinated prior to cooking. Although it is prepared like normal steaks, game meat is way healthier than red meat and in fact it is one of the healthiest meat in the world! It is lean, low in fats and cholesterol, because game always run freely in the wild.
The Most Wanted Travel Tips
Visit Mama Africa Restaurant if you would like to try some exotic game meat. It is one of the most famous South African restaurants in Cape Town. Every night it is full house and we will recommend you to make reservation in advance to prevent disappointment. If you dine in using iVenture Pass, you will get discount, a complimentary soup and a glass of house wine too.
Biltong
Biltong is a type of dried meat, where usually Southern African eat it as a snacks. It is usually made using Beef, Ostrich or different types of Antelopes meat. The Biltong it is very similar to Jerky. However it has a different production process. The process of Biltong will begins with a marination in vinegar, salt, sugar and spices. Then, the meat is hung and air dried. This is the way that indigenous tribes of Southern African countries preserve their meat back in the early days.
In South Africa, everyone has their own recipe of making their best Biltong. Some even have extra flavouring like chilli and garlic, that is why it tastes so good. Biltong generally has a strong gamey taste and aroma. It is perfect to eat it when drinking wine or any other alcoholic based drinks. Don’t ever feel guilty for eating too much Biltong because it is rich in protein and low in fat. It is definitely a unique South African souvenirs you can buy for your friends and family when you visit South Africa.
Bobotie
This South African national dish comes with a cute name (pronounced as Ba-Bo-Tee). It is a Cape Malay recipe with hints of Southeast Asian flavour. For us, it tastes very much like home! Normally, Bobotie is made using minced beef which is simmered with different types of herbs and spices like turmeric, cumin as well as curry powder. Then, it is baked to finish after adding egg based toppings. Bobotie is really a comfort food. This classic South African casserole is rich, flavourful and aromatic. A simple dish yet so fulfilling. We are tempted to make our own Bobotie already.
The Bobotie Vincent had during his trip in Cape Town is slightly different with the traditional ones. It has a modern twist to it, where the food vendor rolled the Bobotie into a ball, coated with bread crumbs and deep fried it in hot oil. It has an extra crunchy shell on the outside and soft minced beef in the inside.
South African Wine
South African wine is probably one of the best wine we had. Although the price of South African wine is generally cheaper compared to wines from other countries and regions, the quality you get is top notch. South Africa produce a variety of award-winning wines. For example the Cape Town originated signature Pinotage wine. It is a very unique wine which the grapes are a cross between Pinot noir and Cinsaut and they are produced locally in Cape Town. Wine connoisseurs definitely shouldn’t visit Cape Town without visiting and do a wine tasting tours in some of the most beautiful vineyard in Constantia, Stellenbosch or Franschhoek region.
Discovering a country’s food scene is always our favourite thing to do. South African food is generally flavourful hearty. The diverse cuisine with African, Asian and Western influences is truly unique. Hope you enjoy reading this food blog and embark on your food hunting trip soon.
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