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12 South African Food Products That Expats Miss The Most

12 South African Food Products That Expats Miss The Most

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South African food products are appreciated and enjoyed throughout the world, especially in countries where expatriates from the rainbow nation have emigrated and resettled.

Places that have large South African expat communities include countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand and Australia. Many of these resettled expats miss edible items from their homeland.

We take a look at 12 South African food products which expatriates miss the most.

Source: Africhef, SAPromo, CapeTownDailyPhoto, Health24, Wikipedia, PicknPay, RCLFoods.

Beef biltong. Photo: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Getty
Beef biltong. Photo: Melanie Stetson Freeman/Getty

Biltong and Droe Wors

No list of popular food products could be complete without mentioning biltong. The lean meat which is salted and dried, often in strips, is a popular snack in South Africa, and often sought after by expats returning to SA for a visit. Droe Wors is a sausage version prepared in the same manner.

Mrs Balls Chutney
Mrs Balls Chutney – mrsballs.com

Mrs Balls Chutney

The unique tasting chutney is a firm favourite for South Africans, and is used in the preparation or perfection of many a meal. A shipwrecked Canadian captain and his wife brought the recipe to South African shores, and many have South Africans who left their homeland brought a bottle of their favourite chutney with them.

rooibos-tea-natural
Rooibos tea is good for you

Rooibos Tea

Made from plants grown in South Africa, the naturally caffeine free tea is growing in popularity throughout the world, and is widely used in South Africa. Touted for numerous health benefits, rooibos tea is another of the South African food products which expats enjoy.

Boerewors on the braai - Outlooktraveller.com
Boerewors on the braai – Outlooktraveller.com

Boerewors

The favourite South African past-time of enjoying a braai (barbeque) with friends and family would not be complete without boerewors, a traditional sausage, usually containing coarsely ground beef and pork seasoned with spices.

Milk Tart - A South African dessert treat
Milk Tart – A South African dessert treat – stork.co.za

Milk Tart

The delicious South African tart with a sweet pastry crust and creamy filling is one of the most sumptuous sweet treats to emerge from the country. Visiting expats do not miss out on the opportunity to satisfy their craving for the dessert known in Afrikaans as melktert.

Blackhawkimports.com/Vergelegen V Red wine
SA wines are popular throughout the world – Blackhawkimports.com/Vergelegen V Red wine

Wine

South African wines are famous globally, with the Cape Winelands area producing some of the top red and white wines in the world. While South African wines are now widely exported throughout the world, the variety available in the country cannot be matched.

Delicious Romany Creams Biscuits - adsoftheworld.com
Delicious Romany Creams Biscuits – adsoftheworld.com

Romany Creams

Another of the South African food products that are missed by expats around the globe are Romany Creams. They are essentially two chocolate and coconut cookies sandwiched together with milk chocolate, and are perfectly paired with a tea or coffee.

Cream Soda
Cream Soda is a green treat – everydaylola.com

Sparletta Cream Soda

This sweet, green, fizzy drink flavoured primarily with vanilla is known as cream soda, and is produced by Sparletta. It is certainly one for the kids, but many adults love the stuff too. Especially if they grew up in South Africa and no longer have access to it in another country.

NikNaks make great snacks - ropeofsand.com
NikNaks make great snacks – ropeofsand.com

Ghost Pops and NikNaks

Two unique tasting crunchy chips, or crisp snacks, ghost pops and niknaks are tasty flavoured snacks that often provoke nostalgia in those South Africans who have settled in countries far away from the Rainbow Nation.

Ouma Rusks with tea
Ouma Rusks with tea – sapeople.com

Ouma Rusks

This morning staple in South Africa is often missed by those far from their homeland. Ouma Rusks are made from a traditional recipe that dates back to 1939, and are the ideal complement to a good cup of rooibos tea.

Tex chocolate - collectingcandy.com
Tex is a popular SA chocolate bar – collectingcandy.com

South African Chocolates

There are numerous chocolate bars made in South Africa that are not available in other countries. These include examples such as Tex, Tempo, Peppermint Crisp and many others. These are often bought by expats as gifts for people in their new home countries.

Tropica is a refreshing drink
Tropika is a refreshing drink – randdairy.co.za

Tropika

The milk and juice mixture is a delicious and refreshing drink, with many South Africans enjoying the drink which comes in a variety of flavours. Expats miss this sweet drink, as it is not easily available outside of South Africa.