The word can be associated with the word barbecue, although one should tread lightly when using that terms in sunny South Africa, especially near a braai. “Braai” is a word we have all come to love but what are its origins? And why is it uniquely South African? Heritage Day, Braai Day or Shaka Day. It is called many things: Chisa Nyama, Braai and Ukosa to … He’s here to remind South Africa, and not just the French, what a braai is all about. Depending on who you ask, 24 September means something different to South Africans. It’s a day South African of all shapes, colours and sizes unite with their friends and family by a fire. A braai traditionally uses wood & charcoal, whereas a barbecue uses gas and electricity. In my opinion, it is the best site to make money. It’s a tradition in SA, grrrrr. Whether a small quick breakfast, lunch or dinner to a massive gathering of individuals from all backgrounds and walks of life everyone knows is proud of BRAAI. The word braai (pronounced “bry”, rhyming with the word “cry”; plural braais) is Afrikaans for “barbecue” or “roast” and is a social custom in South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia. Braai is such a big part of South African heritage and tradition. Pingback: A Nice Night to Braai | understandingubuntu, Pingback: Sync your iTunes library with Synctunes for Android | Exchange Times, Pingback: Right now, at this moment, what do you want most? A braai is not exclusively about using wood and charcoal as gas has become more and more popular for multiple reasons. As if you needed another reason to get the grid out. A braai traditionally uses wood & charcoal, whereas a barbecue uses gas and electricity. Similar to a potluck party, this is a grand social event (but still casual and laid-back) where family and friends converge on a picnic spot or someone’s home (normally the garden or verandah) with their own meat, salad, or side dish in hand. He will attend to the fire, check that the coals are ready, and braai (cook) the meat. Did you get to try Braaibroodtjies? A braai is not exclusively about using wood and charcoal as gas has become more and more popular for multiple reasons. Braai is the South African word for barbecue, plural braaie, and refers to a meal cooked over an open fire, usually outdoors. South Africa has a rich heritage of cooking meat over an open flame, and an equally rich mix of sides to serve alongside. The Easiest, Quickest Tomato Chili Salsa - My Anosmic Kitchen, Braai Ideas: Hosting and Entertainment - Braai Culture, Heritage Day – Happy Braai Day, SA! What makes the South African braai different is not just the concept of grilling, but … A braai is South Africa’s answer to the barbecue – but it’s so much more than that. Where did braai come from? To braai in South Africa is to truly experience this country. You could just as well cook it in the oven! Enjoy one of South Africa's most consummed dish and most iconic duo . A Braai event in South Africa is not only about barbecue with family and friends, it's a cultural event to unite around a fire, to grill, cook, drink and live together! The word braai forms a proud part of South Africans slang and is used by people of all languages. Did you search “bry meat”? What Heritage? The next big decision you have to make after choosing to Braai, is settling on the right ⭐BRAAI SALADS⭐. Seasons greetings! Your email address will not be published. South Africans live close to … The event, which takes place annually on 24 September, has become something of an institution in South Africa. DRINKS Brandy & Coke, beer, siders and beautiful South African wine. To "braai" or barbeque (Bar-B-Q) meat is a South African tradition. Beware, when you buy en route Leeupoort/Thabazimbi ex Warmbad, they sell you any kind of wood, but they will convince you that it is indeed There’s nothing more South African than apricot snoek on the braai. Shortcuts, like gas braais are normally not an option. As to how they realised cooking over a fire was better than eating raw meat is also unknown but we assume this happened by accident when meat mistakenly fell onto a fire and was taken off and eaten. It never contains mechanically separated of processed meat and no more than 30% fat. | Sneakers, Socks and Soju, Load Shedding fun (South African Version) | The online life of Wilhelm Lehmann, Volunteer Adventures – Ben Dorsey (Part 2) | Bulembu, 6 reasons Why EC Cape Town Is The Most Beautiful City To Learn English - EC Cape Town Blog, Celebrating American Independence from Africa - Petit Elefant, The Name’s Neethling | Stewarding Passion, How I picked my wedding venue | Blue Jeans White Tee Blog, Wouter's Blog » Blog Archive » Gemsbok Sosaties, For Heritage Day: What Traveling Teaches Me About Being African | Barefoot Whispers, Heritage? Recipe For Braaied Snoek. It’s a special South African feast that can last for hours, and there are plenty of rules and etiquette around a classic braai. The main distinction between a braai and a barbecue, according to the average foreigner, would be the “fuel” that is used to make the fire and ultimately cook the meat. …and the taste; oh man the taste!! Above: South African wines and sauces . Lets see what under the coals and explore the culture behind braai. Free subscription Get the news that matters from one of the leading news sites in South Africa. August 6, 2019. Welcome to Weber South Africa, home of the Weber Braais in South Africa ranging from gas to portable. Dismiss. Stop at small-town butchers for the best ones. The best wood to braai with must be Sekelbos. If you take a look at the history of Heritage Day in South Africa, you will notice that it was actually celebrated as “Shaka Day” by the Zulus in KZN. Once you have on of these, wow you learn the LeeuLoop. Sometimes this activity is also known as a “chop ‘n dop” (dop being Afrikaans slang for an alcoholic drink, literally meaning “cap” or “bottle top”) when more drinking than eating is done. Have just completed a recent cricket tour representing the Austalian Over 60’s Cricket Team playing games from Durban to Cape Town and couldn’t believe how many Braais we had for the after game dinners. A South African Braai Culture Tradition: A braai traditionally uses wood & charcoal, whereas a barbecue uses gas and electricity. August 6, 2019. It evolved from the word braden (Roast in Dutch) into braaivleis (Which is Afrikaans for grilled meat) and then into the verb braai which means “to grill”. – Our French Adventure, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – My Blog, Kruger diary: Skukuza to Satara | allenontravel, Homemade Satay Sauce with Grilled Flatbread & Chicken Skewers - Homeology, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | Whats On – tripbuzz, Kruger diary: Skukuza to Satara – Allen on Africa, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What's On - ATravel News, 10 South African Female Bloggers to inspire your next adventure! In the end its all about the community and our Braai Culture! Curried Kaapse Krokodil. I thought we liked our BBQs(Braais) in Australia but the South Africans have us covered. The braaing (cooking) of the meat is not the prerogative of all the men attending, as one person would normally be in charge. More than anything a braai means more than the fuel, the apparatus and even the actual cooking. A braai is not exclusively about using wood and charcoal as gas has become more and more popular for multiple reasons. Sayonara hotdogs. As many of you know, braaing is a devout South African heritage.So it makes logical sense that our national holiday to celebrate the country’s heritage has been deemed National Braai Day – the 24 th of September is an important date on the South Africa social calendar. Most South African's would have a braai over the weekends. Braai Day is a celebration of South Africa's rich cultural heritage and its unique national pastime, the braai. It is about getting the right smoky flavours into the meat. Here's what you need to know about the public holiday. You must have the patience and skill (and balls) to braai fish on the open coals, skin side down, without burning the meat… What is the point if you are going to wrap the fish in tinfoil? South Africans braai anywhere, in any suitable container | ©Roya Ann Miller/Unsplash What Heritage? A braai is an integral part of South African culture, and a common practice in any South African household. Humans (homo erectus) controlled fire long before we knew how. Please share your thoughts and braai traditions with us, we’d love to hear and add your stories to ours. A braai is much more than cooking food; it is about the atmosphere, the experience and the people that you share it with. The debate on when exactly humans started to control fire is unknown and still fiercely debated. If you have a different oppinion about what a braai really is, please leave your comments. There has however been a renewed interest in the use of wood after the South African government started with its invasive plant species removal program. The atmosphere and VIBE of the braai is what makes it such a special event for all South Africans. While wood formerly was the most widely-used braai fuel, in modern times the use of charcoal has increased due to its convenience, as with barbecues elsewhere in the world. It originated with the Afrikaner people, but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds. The exact etymology of the word is hard to trace though because Dutch was rapidly developmening into new sister language known as Afrikaans in the 18th century but wasn’t well document because it was seen a a ‘kitchen” language still. It's a chance to get your friends and/or family together, sip some wine or down a … Unlike hamburgers and hot dogs in the US, we had steak, ribs and lamb chops! A braai can be made at any time and anyplace, however, one specific day on South Africa’s calendar is dedicated specifically to the braai. A braai can happen any where and anytime but it is usually at someones house who hosts a group of friends, The host is responsible for letting the invitees know what to bring like snacks, sides, meat, salads or alcohol, Men & woman gather around the “braai” for the entire process, from fire starting to post-cooking, Men & woman spend most of the time in kitchen socialising and preparing the sides, salads, pap, deserts and all those things that go along with the braai, MEAT is ESSENTIAL, without meat – it’s not a braai. Here are a few more fish braai recipes for when you’re feeling like something fishy. All of these come at different shapes, strength,flavours and other variations. – Spunky Munky, Pingback: A Taste of Cape Town – The Road In Between, Pingback: Do you know Joe from Africa? When you … must be visit this site and be up to date everyday. The person in charge is known as the braaier (chef), and if his skills are recognised, could be called upon to attend to the braai (BBQ) at other occasions as well.”. If this whole debate really interests you, you can check out this article that goes into more detail here. The word is originally from the language and culture of Afrikaans people. August 22, 2019 . Fuss-free melt in the mouth tender greek style lamb chops. I am a US citizen and had my first braai in SA a few months ago. The word vleis is Afrikaans for “meat”. However, for those of you that don’t know what a braai is, here is Wikipedia’s description of it: “The word braaivleis is Afrikaans for “roasted meat.”. Even though the word is spelled with two a’s and one i, it sounds like “cry” but with a “br“. If some one desires to be updated with hottest technologies therefore he Other men may assist but generally only partake in fireside conversation. It originated with the Afrikaner people, but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds. Traditionally called Bry in South Africa, meaning to make a wood fire and roast meat on a grid. Our factory is based in Gauteng witth focus on direct to market as well as retail. You might wonder why South Africa Heritage Day is called Braai Day and why so many South Africans celebrate the day with a somewhat extravagant braai. Either way it was sometime shortly after humans took control of fire that they began to cook over the fire! You can barbeque anywhere, but you can only braai in South Africa. | We All Waiting, Pingback: Flaming Junction – Why the South African Braai Trumps an American Barbecue | Irish Village Markets, Pingback: South African Potato Salad | MyWeku Tastes, Pingback: My first week in Cape Town | Picking Up The Tabb, Pingback: My first weekend here! | Sneakers, Socks and Soju. Did you know that snoek is one of South Africa’s most sustainable fish? A South African braai is made with either wood, charcoal or briquettes. Really enjoyed the tour and the hospitality we received from our opposition was second to none ! The word braai in the context of braai culture, can take on many forms such as describing a social meeting; the physical apparatus(noun) in which you cook your meat; the art and process(verb) of cooking the meat over an open flame or over hot coals. After this happened it was obvious why they carried on dropping meat into fire. Braaied butternut and miso parcels. Oher factors that make a braai truly unique. Pingback: Load Shedding fun (South African Version) | The online life of Wilhelm Lehmann, Pingback: Volunteer Adventures – Ben Dorsey (Part 2) | Bulembu, Pingback: 6 reasons Why EC Cape Town Is The Most Beautiful City To Learn English - EC Cape Town Blog, Pingback: Celebrating American Independence from Africa - Petit Elefant, Pingback: The Name’s Neethling | Stewarding Passion, Pingback: How I picked my wedding venue | Blue Jeans White Tee Blog, Pingback: Wouter's Blog » Blog Archive » Gemsbok Sosaties, Pingback: For Heritage Day: What Traveling Teaches Me About Being African | Barefoot Whispers, Pingback: Heritage Day | Twaksak | Tobacco Pouch, Pingback: Heritage? If you are on a low budget, you can even braai cheaper cuts of meat like beef chuck. – Expat Panda, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – TripBroadcast, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – Travel @ News Buzz Zone, Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – Fun Travel News. Chicken “flatties” are also very nice to braai. Posted on September 14, 2019 September 19, 2019 by Lexi Hall. The most important part of a braai is the fire. Fossilised coal  shows strong evidence that it was man made. What is a braai in South Africa? A braai has no specific time or place but rather it exists everywhere and has the potential to happen at any given moment. Therefore, it is meat being grilled on an open flame or on a grill / braai. For those who don’t know, South African wines are among the best in the world. Safari Braai. The 24th of September was Heritage Day! What makes a braai truly South African are the traditions that have become common practise in a vast majority of households in this beautiful country. The word ‘braai’ is pronounced as “bry”, like in “cry”, but with a ‘b’. Boerewors cooked expertly on a braai is one of the most South African meals you could ever eat. A braai also often revolves around another event, like a rugby match, ensuring a lively (and loud) atmosphere. Pingback: Why a South African Braai beats a US bbq | Peace, Love & Giraffes, Pingback: Essentials for Country Escapades | Mapula - Mother of Rain, Pingback: South African Braai | Spit Braai Delivery| Cape Town. We will certainly take note of this. Pingback: The Easiest, Quickest Tomato Chili Salsa - My Anosmic Kitchen, Pingback: Braai Ideas: Hosting and Entertainment - Braai Culture, Pingback: Heritage Day – Happy Braai Day, SA! The men gather round the braai or braaistand (the fire or grill) outdoors and cook the food, while women prepare the pap, salads, desserts, and vegetables for the meal in the kitchen. In South African there is a day that has been dedicated to the braai (It’s actually heritage day) and celebrated annually on the 24 September. The other main part of the meal is pap (pronounced /p?p/, meaning porridge), or the krummelpap (“crumb porridge”), traditionally eaten with the meat. Lighting up a fire to cook a meal forms part of most African cultures. – myswazilife, Pingback: A South African restaurant chain wants to show the American South how to grill meat the ‘braai’ way - Quartz, Pingback: A South African restaurant chain wants to show the American South how to grill meat the ‘braai’ way, Pingback: Beauty Tips for the Female Backpacker – a southern yankee abroad, Pingback: Top 5 Reasons Why a South African Braai Trumps an American Barbecue - Relocation Africa, Pingback: Wouter's Blog » Blog Archive » … twee boerbokke en ‘n haas, Pingback: Food to experience in Gauteng – MONATE WA GAUTENG, Pingback: How To Create A Braai or Barbecue Grill With A Tin Can. – Expat Panda, Pingback: Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – TripBroadcast, Pingback: Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – Travel @ News Buzz Zone, Pingback: Sep 20, Heritage Day Cape Town 2018 | Braai Day | Events | What’s On – Fun Travel News, We will not send you any spam, bacon or other pork products to your email address, PLEASE NOTE: We are closed until 4 Jan. All orders placed will only be delivered from 7 Jan 2021 onwards. Prime cuts, like thick cut T-bone steaks and lamb chops are especially good. To braai is considered a social occasion more than simply a way of preparing food. Drop your mail and be the first to get fresh news. Visit our website for more information today! The word ‘braai’ is actually Afrikaans, deriving from the Dutch word for ‘roast’, and is usually an occasion for friends and family to come together in celebration. Originally it was derived from an Afrikaansword, braaivleis, meaning grilled meat, but it is now a universally used term in South Africa. Another popular Afrikaans variation of braai would be“chop ‘n dop” (dop being Afrikaans slang for an alcoholic drink). Pingback: A little taste of home…literally! From garlic bread to potato salad, everyone has a non-negotiable signature braai side. The word has been adopted by English-speaking South Africans and can be regarded as another word for barbecue, in that it serves as a verb when describing how food is cooked and a noun when describing the cooking equipment, such as a grill. September 24th in South Africa is officially called Heritage Day but is fondly referred to as Braai Day. If you are a South African, you definitely know the answer to that question. So you probably don’t need to read this. The meal is subsequently eaten outside by the fire/braai, since the activity is normally engaged in during the long summer months.