What is Biltong?

Biltong is the result of a 17th century, age-old way of preserving meat. It was made to serve as a form of sustenance and nutrition and most typically made from beef or game meat.

Biltong is deeply rooted in Southern African culture, widely regarded as the nation’s favourite snack and enjoyed across every occasion—from sporting events to road trips. Its origins trace back centuries to the indigenous people who first preserved meat by air-drying it in the harsh African climate.

This practice was later influenced and enhanced by the Dutch Voortrekkers, who used salt, vinegar, and aromatic spices to flavour, cure and dry meat for long journeys, ensuring a lasting source of protein and sustenance.

Today, that same tradition lives on in modern form—crafted through simple, time-honoured methods into wholesome, delicious, ready-to-eat meat snacks made for busy days and active lifestyles.

MEANING OF THE WORD 'BILTONG'

Biltong is a snack with a history as rich as its flavour. The word biltong comes from the Dutch language, where the word 'Bil' means (rump" or buttock), and 'tong" means (strip" or tongue) —so, it literally means 'rump strips.' Tasty thought right?

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BILTONG & JERKY

Biltong and jerky may look alike at first glance, but they’re not quite the same. While both are forms of dried meat, the processes used to prepare them are quite different.

Jerky is typically cooked and or smoked which also speeds up the drying process.

We look at biltong of more of a slow-crafted art form. Made with love, care and patience, biltong is traditionally dried using salt, air, and a unique blend of aromatic spices like coriander, pepper and cloves.

The meat is marinated for up to 48 hours before being hung in a temperature-controlled environment, allowing the salt to do its magic by drawing out the moisture and infusing the meat with flavour. It’s a process that takes time, but it’s this attention to detail that creates the perfect biltong.

Because biltong is dried at an ambient temperature, and not cooked, it retains much more of it's nutritional make up compared to when meat is cooked. In fact, the drier the biltong, the higher its protein content, making it a great choice for a healthy snack.