When is a doughnut not just a doughnut? A Koeksister is to Afrikaans much more than a sweet fried doughnut, it is, in the words of Wilbur Smith, “heritage…culture…family and history”. Traditional foods are greater than the sum of their parts, as they represent a direct link with all that has gone before. Koeksisters: Heritage, culture, family and history encased inside a delicious sweet treat. Indeed, a monument has been raised to the mighty koeksister in the Afrikaner community of Orania. The baking of these golden crunchy and syrup infused sweets has fuelled the building of churches and schools in South Africa.
Inside the Koeksister Experience
Koeksisters are made with dough, sugar syrup or honey, aniseed, cinnamon and mixed spice. Plaited dough strips are fried in oil, before being plunged into ice-cold sugar syrup. To bite into a koeksister is an experience like no other. Imagine a delicious crunchy crust with a liquid syrup centre. Fabulous honey flavours assault your taste buds in a symphony of sensual surrender to the ultimate sweet treat. You will go gently into that sugary swoon and, perhaps, thank the heavens above for this sticky experience.
Koeksisters are made with dough, sugar syrup or honey, aniseed, cinnamon and mixed spice. Plaited dough strips are fried in oil, before being plunged into ice-cold sugar syrup. To bite into a koeksister is an experience like no other. Imagine a delicious crunchy crust with a liquid syrup centre. Fabulous honey flavours assault your taste buds in a symphony of sensual surrender to the ultimate sweet treat. You will go gently into that sugary swoon and, perhaps, thank the heavens above for this sticky experience.
Every Afrikaner Oozes Sweetness
Some say that every South African can share a koeksister memory. You can scratch a Saffer and some of that sugar syrup will ooze out, as a result of having consumed so many koeksisters over a lifetime. Koeksisters are akin to some of the essential foods that you find in other cultures around the world. Comfort food for a culture and a big part of the heritage of the Afrikaners. The origins for this culinary cultural icon are attributed to two recipes brought to South Africa by Dutch settlers in 1652. These two recipes were for doughnuts and a sweet bowtie-shaped thingee made from pasta dough.
It is interesting how sweet treats like koeksisters, doughnuts, Krispy Kreme’s and the like are big performers in the fund-raising stakes for school-run and church-based projects across the globe. Give the kiddies and their families a spoon full of sugar and the purse strings will open in response, it seems. If you have not tried these South African doughnuts, then, you really have something to look forward to. Try a twisted koeksister with your next cup of coffee and get ready to swoon to the taste. The best koeksisters are hand-made and made with love.
Some say that every South African can share a koeksister memory. You can scratch a Saffer and some of that sugar syrup will ooze out, as a result of having consumed so many koeksisters over a lifetime. Koeksisters are akin to some of the essential foods that you find in other cultures around the world. Comfort food for a culture and a big part of the heritage of the Afrikaners. The origins for this culinary cultural icon are attributed to two recipes brought to South Africa by Dutch settlers in 1652. These two recipes were for doughnuts and a sweet bowtie-shaped thingee made from pasta dough.
It is interesting how sweet treats like koeksisters, doughnuts, Krispy Kreme’s and the like are big performers in the fund-raising stakes for school-run and church-based projects across the globe. Give the kiddies and their families a spoon full of sugar and the purse strings will open in response, it seems. If you have not tried these South African doughnuts, then, you really have something to look forward to. Try a twisted koeksister with your next cup of coffee and get ready to swoon to the taste. The best koeksisters are hand-made and made with love.
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