In the open-air market in Johannesburg, South Africa, the air is dyed golden by charcoal fire and spices. The dried meat hanging on the stall was shiny with oil, and the vendor handed over a piece with a smile, saying, “Try Biltong, our grassland gold!” In the moment he bit it, the salty and meaty flavors exploded on his tongue, as if tasting the wind and sunshine of the African grasslands. This is the national snack of South Africa – Biltong, a wild legend hidden in a piece of dried meat.

1. Dutch immigrants’ ‘survival wisdom’ unexpectedly creates popular snacks

400 years ago, when the Dutch first arrived in South Africa, they found that the meat was too hot to survive, so they came up with a trick—cut the meat into strips, marinate it with salt, black pepper, and coriander seeds, and hang it to dry. Originally, it was a traditional way to preserve food, but unexpectedly, the dried meat became salty and fragrant, and the more you chewed, the more addictive it became. That’s how Bilton was born! Now this craft has become an intangible cultural heritage of South Africa, with every piece of dried meat hiding the wisdom of our ancestors.

2. From beef to wild game, Biltong‘s ‘Meat Blind Box ‘is too exciting!

Do you think Bilton only has beef? That’s underestimating the creativity of South Africans! In addition to common beef, they also use antelope meat, ostrich meat, and even crocodile meat to make Biltong. Bilton of antelope and mutton carries the wildness of the grassland, with firm and chewy meat; The low-fat and high protein ostrich meat makes fitness enthusiasts ecstatic. The most amazing thing is the crocodile meat Bilton, which has a faint oceanic flavor when bitten; it’s like having an animal world party on the tip of your tongue!

3. Refuse to add sugar to ‘hardcore jerky’ and eat it in its original flavor

Unlike the sweet beef jerky in the United States, Biltong takes the “hardcore” route”—without adding sugar, relying only on salt and spices to create the natural flavor of the meat. When marinated, the freshness of coriander seeds and the spiciness of black pepper penetrate into the meat, and after air drying, the flesh becomes distinct and silky. Take a bite, and the salty aroma will explode in your mouth. The more you chew, the more you can taste the original flavor of the meat. Some people say that this taste is “like eating a dancing steak”; it’s just too intoxicating!

4. The ‘social artifact’ of South Africans is indispensable wherever they go

It is the best partner for chatting at family gatherings in South Africa; when watching a rugby game, fans shout while gnawing on Biltong; even camping in the wilderness is the most enduring dry food. A South African friend joked, “As long as you have Bill in your pocket, you can talk to people as brothers wherever you go

5. From African grasslands to global shelves, Biltong’s’counterattack path ‘

Before, Biltong only smelled its fragrance on the grasslands of South Africa, but now it has become popular all over the world! In high-end supermarkets in London, it pairs CP with handmade cheese; Tokyo’s izakayas use it to pair with sake; even domestic imported supermarkets can see its presence. There are still various innovative flavors available now, such as spicy and garlic, but the most classic one is still the primitive flavor with African wildness.

Having said so much, do you also want to try this South African “national snack”? Next time you see Biltong in the supermarket, why not buy a pack and give it a try? At the moment of tearing open the packaging, the salty aroma was overwhelming, and every bite felt like an adventure on the African savannah—with the scorching sun, the rich spices, and the South African people’s obsession with food. Maybe you will fall in love with this storytelling jerky like me!