As South Africans, we have so much to be proud of in the heights we have reached as a nation, from sports to music and much more. While the rest of the world may outpace us in reaching the moon first or discovering unprecedented inventions, there is one thing that undeniably unites the human race – food.
Because of our rich history and the existence of diverse cultures and religions, food has been at the forefront of several milestone celebrations, traditional events as well as weddings and other festivities.
To top it off, no celebration is ever complete without a delicious dessert to seal the treat to the taste buds.
As we celebrate Heritage Month, we have decided to celebrate some of South Africa’s most popular desserts.
Below is a list of some:
Milk tart
A milk tart is a cheesecake-like dessert that contains a crispy crust base that forms the foundation of the filling inside.
According to the lifestyle publication Wander Cape Town, this dessert is said to have originated in the Dutch Cape Colony in the 1700s among the Afrikaaners. Despite this is it a popular South African favourite and can be made using four simple ingredients, milk, flour, sugar and eggs.
View this post on Instagram
Peppermint tart
The news publication Daily Maverick reports that peppermint tart is a recent invention that occurred with the introduction of the Orley Whip. The publication states that the packaging of this product contained the recipe for the dessert and the rest was history.
This can be made using a few simple ingredients comprising layered biscuits, whipped cream mixed with caramel and crushed peppermint crisp bars.
Koesisters
Popular among the coloured and Cape Malay community, koesister’s are an ideal snack for many local homes. This is not to be confused with the Afrikaans original koeksister, which is a golden twisted plait with a sweet syrup centre. In contrast, the koesister is a round oval dough ball which is darker in colour and contains coconut and other spices to enhance its taste and texture.
Malva pudding
Malva pudding is another local favourite and can be found at many of South Africa’s most loved restaurants. This delicious dessert that comprises moist cake, topped with apricot jam and custard is a must-have during any day of the week.
Also see: Easy to make desserts
