Top 5 Eastern Cape Food & Drink: A Delicious Review

Hey, so you’re looking to sample what the Eastern Cape province in South Africa can offer when it comes to good eats and interesting sips? You are in the right place. This coastal gem has got quite a yummy culinary landscape, is that right, with unique dishes and locally-produced drinks. It’s about to open you up, just a bit, to some must-try delights when you visit. Consider this as your quick guide on what to eat and drink as you tour.

1. Umngqusho: A Traditional Staple

First, let’s talk about Umngqusho. What’s that you might be asking? Well, Umngqusho, sometimes it’s almost like a creamy samp and beans dish, you know, and it is so often found at local gatherings and family dinners. It’s really a pretty simple combination of these two ingredients, that is, samp (which is crushed corn kernels) and sugar beans, you see, cooked low and slow until they reach, almost, a comforting, porridge-like state. Is that the word for it? What’s extra nice about Umngqusho is you will very, very often find it paired with a hearty meat stew, that can add a whole other degree of richness and flavor. Very, very often it can add such complexity. This can easily be your warm welcome to Eastern Cape cuisine; and don’t we all like to feel welcomed?

2. Potjiekos: A Slow-Cooked Delight

Next on the menu? Potjiekos, is that a staple all around South Africa? In the Eastern Cape, still, it gets its own spin. The term, so ‘potjiekos’, alright it actually means “pot food”. It’s really more of a cooking method than it is just a particular dish, that is, and it entails layering meat, alright usually some form of game or beef, and then you have some veggies like potatoes and carrots in a round cast iron pot, and of course, flavoring things just a bit with local herbs and spices, and then you slowly cook that over an open fire. So that everything melds together over some several hours, you know. I think you will discover, by the way, that the beauty of potjiekos lies in that shared communal experience of cooking outdoors, that really everyone can get involved in and enjoy together. So it might be more special with new friends around!

3. Koeksisters: A Sweet Treat

Got a sweet tooth? Then get yourself a Koeksister. That’s basically just a fried dough pastry that you soak in a sugary syrup. You will very, very often infuse it with ginger, cinnamon, sometimes a hint of lemon too it’s almost like some kind of extra zest and aroma to the party. As a matter of fact, in a way the outside, basically, it has that kind of golden, crispy texture, right, so, while the inside it might be just moist and syrupy, still a little sticky, and so, this lovely treat is quite a fixture at markets and bakeries throughout the region. Is that all? Try to seek out some homemade versions for a bit more of a genuine taste. By the way, every family tends to, usually, have their version, and, really, that makes it a delicious adventure.

4. Homemade Ginger Beer: A Refreshing Drink

And talking about drinks, how about trying homemade ginger beer, still kind of popular. What’s the story? So a lot of homes and small vendors seem to make this brew. And, really, it has just a more zingy and refreshing flavor than its store-bought equivalents might. It gets its sparkle, that is, from fresh ginger. We still sweeten it too it’s almost made a bit tart, you know, from the lemons, and I think the whole thing ends up lightly fermented. So is that cool, huh? Usually this local ginger beer is a lovely partner to all of those, very, very often very rich dishes you see served at Eastern Cape tables. Well maybe, anyway, that would work.

5. Amarula Cream Liqueur: A Taste of Africa

Before we end, so you cannot talk about South African drinks, anyway, that is, really, that you don’t give Amarula a nod. I mean that is such a famous cream liqueur. Did you know, that uses the fruit from the marula tree? So elephants like them? So this silky, velvety, somewhat creamy drink just, well, it presents some unique caramel notes. And what happens? As a matter of fact, sometimes it carries just a fruity undertone that very clearly screams “Africa”. See if you can pick it out? Have yourself this neat over ice, is that all, that you should drink? Or stir it to boot, in some very dessert cocktail, just something a little luxurious. See if you can’t.