Biltong is a extremely popular delicacy for especially Afrikaners and the English in South Africa (and to a limited degree in the rest of Southern Africa). Biltong is basically sun/wind-dried-salted-spiced strips of meat. While beef is the most common variant, other meats may also be used to produce biltong. Popular non-beef biltong include ostrich, kudu and bushbuck. These days you also get flavoured biltong, e.g. chutney or peri-peri biltong. While some South Africans proudly produce their own biltong (e.g. farmers, hunters & expats living abroad) most city and town folk in South Africa buy theirs at the closest slaghuis (Afrikaans for butcher).

Biltong originated from the first European pioneers who trekked into the interior of South Africa and had no other means of preserving meat. Today biltong lovers consume large quantities of biltong in spite of having freezers and fridges at home... Biltong may be eaten by tearing of pieces with your teeth or slicing off pieces with a sharp pocket knife or hunting knife. A much more practical option is to have your local butcher put it through a mechanical slicer to end up with small bite size bits. You can also request the butcher to provide you with dry, relatively dry or wet biltong. If you're butcher is a friendly guy (most are guys...) you can even ask him to cut of any fat from your chosen piece of biltong.

It is acceptable to eat biltong almost anywhere and on some occasions it may even be served as a light snack at fancy functions. The delicacy is almost compulsory at large sport gatherings (e.g. rugby & cricket) and around a bushveld fire out in the wilderness. If you travel abroad to meet with some of your expat mates it's always a good idea to take some biltong with. If you can get the stuff through customs you will definitely be a very very popular visitor. If when touring South Africa, you're heading for a private game reserve you can expect to bump into biltong during your sunset drink and snacks break on your evening game drives.

Be warned though, while delicious (acquired taste) biltong is not great for your breath and you may require a breath mint should you have to socialize with strangers after indulging... it's not the kind of thing you'll eat on the way to your first date.