Biltong may just be one of the greatest inventions ever to come out of South Africa. Right up there with Bunny chow and rusks. I love the low-fat protein hit and the great taste. I can imagine it being the perfect nutritional accompaniment on a long trek or during a marathon battle. Why I love biltong on the golf course is for the same reason. It provides the energy boost needed to sustain you through a round without weighing you down. Golf can be a gruelling test of concentration both physical and mental.

Biltong Avoids the Heavy Digestion Blues

I find that digestion adversely impacts upon my ability to swing the club well and stay in touch with the subtilities necessary to play good golf. Biltong avoids the heavy digestion required by carbohydrate rich foods. It is like a miracle superfood supplement easily available for a quick top up of energy out there on the links. There is nothing worse than having a good round going and watching it disappear due to diminishing energy levels. If you can, also, avoid the heavy digestion blues impacting upon a few holes during your round it makes for the ideal support for top line golf. Which is why I love biltong on the golf course.

Why Are There So Many Great South African Golfers?

I have, often, wondered why there are so many great South African golfers and whether biltong plays a part in their superior on-course performances? I know, in my own case, I could not imagine doing without this natural helper. Golf is a game where you walk around 10km every round (real golfers walk the course) and swing the club upward of a hundred times (counting practice swings). There are highs and lows happening during every round, searching for golf balls (yours and your partners), missing fairways and putts, digging holes in bunkers, and having to add up all your shots. Chewing a delicious and nourishing mouthful of biltong can be a momentary relief from the enormity of all this at the time.
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Sure, golf is just a game, but it definitely doesn’t feel like that when you are out there doing battle with the course. The concentration required to drive the ball immense distances and keep it on the fairway is demanding to say the least. The ability to change gears from the big booming drive down to the delicate finickity putt that breaks right to left is equally challenging. Suddenly, forcing yourself in the bunker not to hit the ball but to take sand instead asks much discipline of the proponent of the game of golf. Biltong provides the protein hit necessary to maintain these feats for more than four hours in this bubble of competing golfers at your local course. If you haven’t tried it, as an accompaniment over 18 holes, then, you have something to look forward to. Get the edge over your mates and blitz the field next Saturday.
 

In a sign that the coronavirus crisis is easing in South Africa sales of alcohol and tobacco will be allowed after a ban restricted their sale during the height of the pandemic. The tough lockdown and restrictions may have reduced the death toll in this heavily infected nation. South Africa has the highest number of infected people in Africa and the fifth most in the world. So far, there have been around 11, 667 confirmed deaths related to COVID-19 infection. However, new infections are trending at a lower rate since July.

The Adverse Effects of Alcohol Consumption During the Pandemic

The ban on alcohol and tobacco sales was implemented on March 27. At the time, the government stated that the bans were necessary to reduce the demand upon hospital trauma wards and to limit respiratory diseases. Home sales of alcohol were allowed from June 1, but the ban was reintroduced on July 13 after trauma admissions surged. It is interesting to observe the adverse effects of alcohol upon vulnerable parts of the community in response to this pandemic. In Australia, there have been huge spikes in alcohol consumption and incidents of domestic violence during this pandemic. I spoke to a policeman last week, who shared with me that he has been attending these incidents in his constabulary at never before seen rates. People are not dealing with the stress of this crisis well and indulging in excessive alcohol consumption is making things a hell of a lot worse.

The Human Cost of the Misuse of Alcohol is Misery & Violence
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In South Africa, alcohol and tobacco producers and retailers have complained about the economic damage to their businesses and the loss of jobs in their industries. Governments have missed out on tax revenue and there have been reports of illegal trade flourishing in these products. It seems that this virus pits our health concerns up against our economic concerns here in South Africa and right around the globe. The human cost of the misuse of alcohol consumption is misery and violence, with women and children bearing the brunt in many cases.
 
The lifting of the prohibition on the sale of alcohol will make many people happy but there will be ongoing costs in terms of community health and wellbeing. Cases of COVID-19 have dropped from 12, 000 a day to around 5 000 a day.  Hospitalised coronavirus patients have fallen from 10, 000 to about 4 000 in August. However, the government’s declared state of disaster has been extended until September 15. It seems that things are heading in the right direction and hopefully a vaccine is just around the corner. We wish all our friends and compatriots everywhere our very best during this challenging time.

I have often asked myself, whilst out on the links, why South Africa has produced so many world class golfers? Many times, I have pondered this, as I lined up a putt or prepared myself for a cracking drive down the fairway. Perhaps it is the prevalence of the great outdoors amid our culture or the fact that we are all strapping, very fit, men and women. Maybe it is the biltong? Whatever it is, I have collated a list of the greatest golfers from South Africa in honour of their achievements in the game.

The Great Gary Player Completed a Career Grand Slam

Arguably the best-known golfer to have emerged from South Africa is the great Gary Player. The wee man in black mixed it with Arnie and Jack, as part of the Big Three back in the sixties and seventies. Player won an incredible 163 times around the globe and this included 9 Majors and 24 wins on the PGA tour. Gary Player completed a career Grand Slam of Major wins, which is a rare feat indeed. Next on my list of the greatest golfers from South Africa would be Bobby Locke. Arthur D’Arcy Locke was one of the best putters of all time, hooking the ball into the hole with incredible regularity. Bobby won The Open 4 times from 1949 to 1957.

Ernie Els is a True Champion of the Game of Golf

Who can deny that Ernie Els, The Big Easy, is one of the all-time great golfers hailing from South Africa? The likeable Els has had victories in 4 Majors, including 2 US Opens and 2 Opens. Ernie was and is a gentleman on and off the course. His wins came on tough circuits, usually in tough conditions. Ernie Els is a true champion of the game of golf. Retief Goosen is another top South African golfer who has achieved greatness in the hardest game of all. Retief has ground out 2 Major victories in the US Open on very testing tracks in 2001 and 2004.
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More recently, Charl Schwartzel has competed in the Majors again and again, winning The Masters in 2011 in fine style. Louis Oostihuizen has a Major to his credit, with victory in the 2010 Open at St Andrews. David Frost did not win a Major but was a feisty competitor on the PGA tour, where he won 10 times. Trevor Immelman scored a wonderful triumph in the 2008 Masters over Tiger Woods. Tim Clark duelled with the best in America and elsewhere winning 12 times globally. Brandon Grace is another regular competitor in the Majors and has amassed a dozen victories to boot.
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Other notable mentions are Erik van Rooyen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Brandon Stone, Justin Harding, Shaun Norris and Dylan Frittelli. Great South African women golfers include Ashleigh Buhai, Stacy Lee Bregman, Lee-Ann Pace, Sally Little, Paula Reto, Connie Chen, and Monique Smit. There are so many top South African golfers emerging on the scene today that it is sometimes hard to keep up with all their fine achievements. I have always thought that a Rider Cup style biannual competition between African golfers and Australasia would be an event worth watching.

Its funny how foods from our formative years produce comforting feelings within us. Despite all our sophisticated civilising human traits and our penchant for high tech, the things we like to eat most are, often, derived from our past. My time as a cooking teacher taught me how few things, most people, cook for dinner week in and week out.  The psychology of food is firmly entrenched in association with the nursery, which is why familiar foods comfort us through life. We may like to dabble in exotic dishes but return to well trodden paths when it comes to the culinary journey.

Nurturing Dishes That Remind Us of South African Life

For many South Africans it might be a Bunny chow or some biltong. Alternatively, it may be a Cape Malay curry or a cut of Boerewors. Then again, for those with a sweet tooth a serve of Malva pudding might light up their night. Why familiar foods comfort us through life is probably less important than the fact that they do. A chakalaka and pap may be the dish that rings your bell the best and transports you to a special place inside yourself. Good food can and does nurture us more than many other things in life.

Simple Comfort Foods Are Divine

I remember some comforting dishes that my mother made for me with that secret ingredient – a mother’s love. No celebrity chef has ever reached those sensual heights in my book. Not even Neil Perry or Jamie Oliver can touch the food inspired memories imprinted by my dear departed mum. Today, we can mention Adriaan Maree and Reuben Riffel, as great South African chefs of the 21C. These chefs are rocking the boats and making waves upon the culinary seas. A rusk, a braai, a melktert? Whatever it might be for you at home, these familiar foods that comfort us are simply divine.

We can dine out on exotic fare and hob nob with mates in fancy joints but eventually we like to come home to what we know best. Comfort foods that remind us of our roots are important parts of the puzzle of what it means to be human, in my view. I know that I am most happy chowing down on good food that feeds the soul, as well as my belly. Life is a rich experience for those who remember to honour their origins. 

There are many snack foods out there to choose from and it would be fair to sat that we live in the age of snacking. Whether it be in front of the TV watching episodes of Uzalo or The Queen. Whether it be at work or out on the golf course biltong is a smart and tasty snack food alternative from crisps or sweets. Full of protein and iron, which is why biltong is a nutritionally good choice to snack on. Containing only 1 gram of carbohydrate from a 28-gram size serve makes it a clever, low calorie and low-carb option.

Biltong Delivers Nutrition, Low Fat & Low Carbs

Many of us enjoy a yummy snack during the day to cheer us up and biltong can deliver that in spades. A bit of a chew gives our jaw muscles a tasty work-out as well. Foods that have texture are far more interesting to eat in my view. We live a sadly pre-masticated world and it is a stimulating change to have something to get your teeth into. Biltong delivers nutrition, low fat, low carbs and big flavour. These are just some of the reasons why biltong is a nutritionally good choice to snack on in 2020.

Naturally Air-Dried for Flavour & Health

Some folks say that biltong has a meaty flavour and is the best dried flesh product on the market. It is not smoky like jerky but has a unique very yummy taste. It is the perfect healthy snack food for the times we live in. You will avoid all those unhealthy fats, sugar, and oils that chips, crisps, pastries and cookies are full of. Biltong is naturally air dried and deliciously packed full of protein, iron and vitamins. The use of a fermented ingredient like vinegar in the biltong making process is another nutritional plus for gut health.
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My own personal favourite is snacking on this protein rich food on the golf course. I find that this nutritionally smart snack food is ideal during my competitive rounds of club golf. You do not want something that weighs you down during a round of gold, as digestion can negatively impact upon your golf swing and on-course decision making. However, a 4-hour round of golf does require some ingestion of food for fuel and biltong is ideal. A protein packed snack can make the difference between victory and being an also-ran. 

We live in extraordinary times and there seems little sign of things changing anytime soon. Here in Australia the Coronavirus is seemingly under control in most states with the exception of Victoria/Melbourne. NSW/Sydney is looking a little shaky, but fingers crossed the hotspots in the south don’t become a second wave. What about South Africa in terms of this virus pandemic? Here is a COVID-19 update for South Africa for those who want to know. According to figures and information provided by Hassan Isilow from the Anadolu Agency on Thursday 16th July 2020 the situation is as follows.

Coronavirus News in South Africa

There are now more than 300, 000 cases of COVID-19 in South Africa and deaths are listed at 4, 453. South Africa has the highest number of infections on the African continent. The country has very high infection rates globally but a low mortality rate relative to these figures. There have been around 160, 000 recoveries from coronavirus. The nation has conducted some 2.2 million tests over the last four months, since the virus was first detected. This COVID-19 update for South Africa paints a challenging but not insurmountable health crisis ahead.

Local Health Officials Preparing for Increases in Infection Rates

Local health officials in South Africa are preparing for an increase in infection rates during this winter season, as it is traditionally the time for influenza infections. The fact that South Africa has one of the world’s highest rates of infection among its population, but a relatively low death rate poses a number of questions, I think. Why so few deaths compared to nations like Italy and Spain? Is it because South Africa has fewer people per capita in the extremely vulnerable age demographics? Or, is it due to the weather, as some researchers are proposing?
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Scientists are putting forward Vitamin D levels as the catalyst for the better performance of infected patients in sunny places like South Africa in comparison to Europe and parts of the United States, where mortality rates are much higher. These experts believe that Vitamin D helps modulate the response of white blood cells to the COVID-19 coronavirus. This information is available on researchgate.net. They also mention that alcohol may play a part in hindering the human immune response to novel viruses. Alcohol consumption is considerably higher in western countries than in Africa.
Wherever you are in the world, we wish you and your family good health and best wishes in the face of this pandemic.

Winter is a time to pig out, let’s not beat around the bush. The colder months provoke our appetites to seek satiation. The good news is that we need more calories and burn them off when it is chilly. There is nothing better than sitting at home around a fire and chowing down on delicious South African winter treats. My favourites include: Koeksisters, milk tarts and Hertzoggies. Indeed, 27th February is National Milk Tart Day in South Africa. Do you have a memorable melktert moment from your childhood or adulthood?

Sweet Things Are the Treasure of Childhood

Sweet things are so very important when you are a kid. It seems like the world revolves around getting hold of sweet treats when you are young. Vanilla, melted butter, sugar, milk, eggs and flour – these ingredients make childhood treasure like milk tarts. Life would be pretty ordinary without the occasional yummy dessert I reckon. Malva Pudding is another of those Dutch origin South African winter treats, which make living a bit more special. Close your eyes and imagine the apricot jammy, spongy caramelised texture flooding your senses. Mmmmmmm.

So Good that Sugary Taste

The colder months are perfect for eating good food and sweet things. My mum used to make jam roly poly and a trifle to die for. Dessert was the best thing about her cooking and we all could tell that this was where her heart truly lay. Puddings, tarts and slices littered my yellow brick road rather than any roadmap to worldly success. When the frost lay upon the fields and mist issued from mouths like dragon smoke, we were all safely ensconced inside with tea and toast. A family that indulges together, generally, loves one another for better or worse. We may not have had a lot of material wealth, but we had milk tarts and each other.

Peppermint crisp tart is another special South African winter treat and together with Hertzoggies I have fond memories of stuffing my face. It seems as a kid my stomach was a limitless vault capable of consuming vast amounts of sensational sweet things. No dire warnings from well meaning relatives could deter me from eating too much. Indeed, too much was not a concept with which I was familiar back then. I once ate a giant bowl full of cherries whilst visiting relatives in Ficksburg around Christmas time. My parents were not impressed by my gluttony and did not know where to look in the face of this eating machine in the guise of their son. I paid the price later in the restroom with a super sore guts.

Drywors and biltong are both dried and cured meat products. They were developed in pre-refrigeration times to preserve animal flesh and avoid botulism poisoning. The use of salt, vinegar and spices inhibit and kill potentially dangerous bacteria from these products. Today, in most cases, we are not so worried about preserving foods outside of the fridge and eat these dried meat products for their yummy taste. So, does drywors deliver better taste than biltong? Yes, because, in this writer’s opinion, drywors is made from a sausage, which offers a more complex flavour base than a single meat.

Drywors is Related to Dutch Metworst

Some folks will disagree with my view on this culinary topic and I welcome a plurality of opinions on this tasty matter. Drywors is akin to a salami in some ways, as it is made from a thin sausage. However, drywors is cured quickly in warm and dry conditions, unlike salami which is cured slowly in a cool but humid environment. Drywors is related to the Dutch droge worst or metworst. Does drywors deliver better taste than biltong? I think so and invite you to take the taste test yourself to see if I am right.

Purists Reckon Biltong is the Truer Meat Taste

Purists may state their case that biltong is the truer dried food than droewors or drywors. In the vein of my daughter’s predilection for keeping all foods separate on her dinner plate i.e. not letting the peas touch the carrots, these are typically deeply personal matters. If you prefer to not mix your foodstuffs, then biltong may be the better option for you. Both South African wonder foods are delicious and well worth trying if you have not done so. These tasty treats deliver an African vibe to your palate.

Both drywors and biltong are excellent accompaniments for quality beers and wines. If you are like me and enjoy meals that offer a selection of tasty treats with drinks, then you will love these two cured meat products. I recommend drywors and biltong as great party platter fare and your guests will sing their praises. You can pick up drywors and biltong from quality South African grocers in Sydney and around the nation’s main cities. Indeed, you can even order them online. Whether drywors is your preferred dried sausage or biltong is your first choice, both of these classic South African treats will make your tastebuds sing. 

Stokkies AKA Snapsticks are biltong snacks for those busy folks who appreciate an ingestion of protein to keep them going. These delightful cured beef treats are made to South African recipes and contain our secret spice blend. Our more than two decades of culinary experience in the creation of these yummy stokkies will have you wanting more. Stokkies, snapsticks: A dried beef snack of protein full of flavour and energy. You can get them made with chilli, chakalaka, BBQ, Jack Daniels, and traditional spicing. Biltong snapsticks go down very well with beer and wine too. These low-fat beauties are a healthy snack for those who love to chew things over.

Little Sticks of Dried Biltong Beef

Stokkies means “little sticks” and are made from thin strips of beef biltong. Their chewy consistency is perfect for snacking whilst on the run or in front of the TV at home. Watching the Springboks beating the Wallabies with a stokkie in hand is what I call good living. Munching on these moreish morsels of mouth watering spiced dried beef makes life worth living. They are one of the reasons why we saffers always have a special smile denoting a deep contentment. Stokkies, snapstiicks: A dried beef snack of protein, which is ideal for sports, rest and play.

A Slow Release High Protein Snack

In my own experience, I find stokkies the perfect snack on the golf course to keep me performing over four hours. You want a slow release high protein snack that doesn’t weigh you down during digestion. High energy foods can assist you in making those booming drives and clutch putts coming down the stretch. Biltong snapsticks are ideal for sports of all sorts. Cricketers and footballers carry them in unsuspected spots on their persons during matches. Umpires have been known to spit out the whistle and insert a stokkie during a well-earned break from play.
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South Africa’s finest dried biltong is available in Sydney and right around Australia online. You may discover that a snapstick is the advantage that gets you over the line in your sport of choice. Whether you are snacking on a stokkie at home or out at play the delicious chewy flavours will pique your interest. You may store your stokkie in a boot or below the belt on field, but we guarantee the oral experience will stimulate your best. Will your stokkie be chilli, BBQ, chakalaka, Jack Daniels or traditional?

Rooibos means red bush and this herbal tea is a well-known wonder drink. This healthy plant-based tea comes from the Fabaceae family and has been drunk for hundreds of years. I had a friend who swore by its efficacy as a healthy warm drink and he would consume it day and night. Rooibos does not contain caffeine and has low levels of tannin, which makes it a healthy alternative to traditional tea and coffee. Rooibos tea: A South African healthy alternative for lovers of hot drinks. The thin needle like leaves were traditionally processed by being beaten on rocks with heavy wooden clubs.

Wild Rooibos & the Cederberg, Western Cape Region

Wild rooibos traditionally would grow on the mountains around the Cederberg, Western Cape region and locals would cut the leaves and bring them down in hessian sacks with the aid of donkeys. Rooibos was a cheaper local alternative to the more expensive imported Asian teas. The seed pods must be scarified for germination to take place and Rooibos seeds were at one time the most expensive seeds in the world. Dr Pieter Lefras Nortier is considered to be the father of the Rooibos tea industry in South Africa for his pioneering work in establishing processes necessary for the commercial production of Rooibos.

A Global Favourite with Health-Conscious Consumers

The enjoyable tea-like flavour of Rooibos has seen it become a global favourite with health-conscious consumers around the world. I suppose with so many habitually eaten and drunk things being bad for you it is rare to come across such a healthy alternative. My friend would carry a flask of Rooibos with him at all times and break out a cup whenever he could. Peter would bang on about this South African super drink till the cows came home. I will always remember this red bush tea forever more because of his passion for the stuff. Rooibos tea: A South African healthy alternative that pleased Peter no end. Rooibos tea is available from quality South African grocery stores in Sydney.

Rooibos comes in both fermented and green forms, with the reddish-brown fermented tea the more popular and cheaper. It is generally drunk black with no milk added. Its slightly grassy and malty flavour is popular with its proponents. One would describe it as a light tea in comparison with the tarrier teas traditionally consumed. Peter would tell me how each cup of Rooibos was doing wonders for his health. Its funny what you remember in this life.