Biltong

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.

As the climate was extremely hot, they needed to preserve the meat, so they hung it out to dry and found out that it had become hard on the exterior, yet flavorful on the inside. And so, biltong was born, enjoyed today both in South Africa and abroad as a testament to its ever-growing popularity.