South African Cuisine:

There are many who believe that a culture can not have a great cuisine unless many outside influences have been added to the pot. If this is true then South African Cuisine is among the world's greatest. The precolonial period, also referred to as indigenous, was characterized by a wide range of fruits, nuts, wild plants and game. With colonization and urbanization came specialized agriculture and the range of available ingredients was drastically reduced.

European colonists from the Netherlands, Germany, France and Britain brought their cooking styles with them. The cuisine of South Africa is often referred to as Cape Dutch. But it owes it's style to the slaves imported to area from Bengal, Java and Malaysia more than any European influences. It is characterized by the use of nutmeg, allspice and hot peppers.

Curry dishes are also very popular, as well as sosaties, grilled marinated meat on a skewer. South African cuisine is a true melting pot!