South African Cuisine
Nadia Chase
Seasonal Climate
Mostly semiarid, subtropical along east coast; sunny days, cool nights.
- Summer (Mid-October to Mid-February): Hot, sunny weather, often afternoon thunderstorms that clear up quickly, leaving a warm, earthy, uniquely African smell in the air.
- Autumn ( Mid-February to April): Offers the best weather in some aspects. Very little rain falls over the whole country, its warm but not to hot.
- Winter (May to July): Characterized in the higher-lying areas of the interior plateau by dry, sunny, crisp days and cold nights.
- Spring (August to Mid-October): The grey winter is forgotten as thousands of small, otherwise insignificant plants cover the plains in an iridescent carpet of flowers.
Climate affect food production
The climate will affect in 4 dimensions:
- Food Availability
- Food Accessibility
- Food Utilization
- Food Systems Stability
South Africa Geography
Main Agricultural products
- Avocados
- Litchis
- Guavas
- Bananas
- Peanuts
- Green Chilies
- Onions
- Sweet Corn
- Cereals and Grains
- Sunflower
- Beans and Soybeans
How large is South Africa?
471,000 square miles, 51.19 million people live in South Africa
Languages spoke in South Africa.
Native South African languages are roughly divided into 4 families: Nguni; Sotho; Tsonga; or Shangana; and Venda. Most black South Africans speak Nguni language ( Zulu, Xhosa are the most prominent languages) Sotho language dominate Centeral South Africa. Typical mixture is Zulu and Xhosa and Zulu and Sotho.
Religion
- Christian = 68% ( most whites coloreds, about 60% of blacks and about 40% of Indians?
- Muslim=2%
- Hindu=1.5%
Biltong
Similar to jerky. Raw meat, such as beef or game meats like ostrich, cut into strips, cured and dried.
Bobotie
Spiced ground meat with an egg topping.
Chakalaka
Vegetable relish.
Feijoada
A stew of beans, beef, and pork.
Gatsby (Sandwhich)
A South African style of a deli sandwhich
Native Customs and Beliefs
South Africa is a very multicultural society and therefore has many different customs.
- The wealth of a Zulu man is determined by how many cattle, goats and sheep he owns.
- A boy among the Xhosa is a ‘thing’ and not a person until he has been through the Tribe’s circumcision rite.
- In Ndebele society it is women who adorn themselves and their dress becomes increasingly spectacular after marriage and with age.
- Each San believes that he knows what animal he was in his former life.
Special Holidays
September 24: Heritage Day
- Nelson Mandela used the phrase " Rainbow Nation" to describe all the different cultures in South Africa
- The day in 1997 when the new constitution took effect ( Basically it is like out Independence Day)
Major foods
Beef Jerkey, Beef or Pork sausages, Anything made with corn
"Unusual" Foods
- Ostrich Omelet: made with an ostrich egg, which weighs up to 3 pounds
- Ox Tongue: Sometimes served whole, can weigh up to 13 kilograms, served fried or in a sandwhich.
Interesting Facts
- South Africa is the second largest exporter of fruit in the world.
- South Africa is the longest wine route in the world.
- South Africa has the cheapest electricity in the world.
- The deepest mine is a gold mine in South Africa
- World's largest producer or Macadamia nuts.