South African Biltong

One of the staples of the South African diet, South African biltong is a type of drive meat that is used to carry along with the hiker as they go. It has become more than simply a meat or product that is used by the traveler however. Aside from this it is also a staple food of the people of South Africa and is in fact considered a delicacy by many people, depending on what it is made of.

There are a wide array of meats which are used to make South African Biltong. Among the varieties of them are beef biltong, ostrich biltong, fish biltong, and even kudu biltong. Typically the biltong is made by slicing the meat down the length of the grain, so that the meat runs with the grain and is somewhat chewy. Beef biltong however is often made so that it is sliced cross grain to be more tender.

Biltong is used by many of the South African people when they will be traveling. It's very common to see small pouches of biltong being carried when on safari or simply working outdoors for a long period of time, but that's not the only way it's eaten or the only reason its carried. It has become a national snack of sorts in South Africa. Biltong is often compared to beef jerky or turkey jerky.

It is like both of those things but differs in the way it is made, as well as the spicing that is used to make it. The name biltong comes from a Dutch word that means "rump". Originally the Biltong that is made and used came with the settlers. Those who came to South Africa in the middle part of the 17th century brought along recipes for helping them to preserve meat. The need to do this was obvious. The hot climate wasn't exactly conducive to keeping fresh meat and a large animal kill could either feed the colony or be wasted. According to the researchers, biltong was the answer. It comes from the meat that was dried and carried by the wagon travelers.

Biltong recipes vary widely according to who’s making the product. There are “secret” biltong recipes that are as closely guarded as the recipe for that very famous fried chicken. It’s just as common to see biltong being made in a hut or in a home, as well as in a store. Making biltong from any meat imaginable also makes it an interesting taste treat. South African Biltong is one of the things you have to try on your visit to South Africa.