Educating the world about the

Educating the world about the beauty of the South African braai

A little something for our non-South African friends to understand the culture of the braai.

Educating the world about the

The South African braai is, quite literally, a feast for the senses. The aroma swirling up from a braai is impossibly intoxicating. The tender succulence of vleis (meat) cooked to perfection is an absolute treat for the taste buds. The chit chat amongst tjommies (friends) leaves a satisfied smile and a warm heart.

A braai is so much more than a meal. It is a celebration.

So what exactly is the fuss all about? Well, a braai isn’t explained, it’s experienced. Even Google won’t help you truly understand it…

fry

Fry? Hmm, not so much.

Netflix braai

Wikipedia offers further insight:

According to everybody’s favourite website: “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.

“It originated with the Afrikaner people, but has since been adopted by South Africans of many ethnic backgrounds.”

A braai is not to be confused with a barbecue

I’m here for the food ????????????#capetown #southafrica #mothercity #africa #braai #clifton #beach #campsbay #food

A photo posted by IFBB Syukur Shuib (@syukurshuib) on

While a barbecue involves chucking hamburger patties on the grill, a braai involves quality meat and expert handling. In fact, the person manning the braai is known as the ‘braai master’, and he or she takes his role extremely seriously.

Calling a braai a barbecue is offensive and discouraged.

Any occasion merits a braai

It doesn’t need to be the perfect summer day for a group of South Africans to host a braai. Any day, any celebration is acceptable. The day you buy your first braai, a housewarming braai, a Sunday afternoon braai, a pre-drinks braai, an after-work braai, a breakfast braai. Seriously, a braai works for every and any occasion.

Any meat goes

 

#braai #nofilter #supersaturday #kudu #springbok A photo posted by @skr_aa on

Everything is acceptable at a braai. You can never go wrong with some good old boerewors, chops, sosaties and kebabs, but if you want to braai a leg of lamb, an entire chicken, or some spareribs, that’s perfectly normal and acceptable too.

Bring and braai / chop ‘n dop

The name speaks for itself: you bring, and you braai. A bit like a potluck party, everyone brings their own meat (and drinks) and side dishes (salads, potato bakes, potato salads or garlic bread) and then, like one big family, everyone has a taste of everything.

If you’ve still got space following the feast, a braai is often rounded off with a South African dessert like milk tart, malva pudding or peppermint crisp.

Any dop goes with meat, and while beer is most associated with the braai, you often find braai attendees drinking wine, cider, spirits and fizzy drinks. The beauty of the braai is that you get to braai and drink what you please.

Charcoal or wood?

South African braais use wood or briquettes (charcoal). Gas braais are frowned upon. According to Braai365, “It’s about getting the fire going, preparing all the meat that people have brought and then perfecting the sequence and temperature for each one”.

Top photo by Flickr.com/JanBraai

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