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Making your own Biltong

There’s nothing quite like the rich aroma of freshly made biltong — that blend of coriander, vinegar, and nostalgia. Whether you’re in Berlin, Munich, or a tiny German village, you can craft your own slice of South Africa right here in Germany. Discover what you need, how to dry it, and a few tricks that make it just like back in South Africa

 

How to go about it

There are many recipes and tips on the internet on how to make your biltong.
We want to share some basics here as well as some tips from our FB members

Step 1 Gather Your Biltong Essentials

Before the first slice is seasoned, it all begins with a few simple things — the right meat, the right mix, and a good place to let time do its work.

You’ll need:

  • Good-quality meat – traditionally beef (silverside or topside), but game or venison also works beautifully.
  • Spices and vinegar – coriander, salt, pepper, and brown vinegar form the soul of biltong.
  • A container for marinating – glass, stainless steel, or plastic, just large enough for your meat to rest in overnight.
  • A place to hang and dry – a biltong box, dehydrator, or a well-ventilated spot away from moisture and curious pets.

Step 2 – The Heart of the Matter: The Meat

Biltong begins with the meat — the heart of the craft.
Choose a lean, firm cut with a little character (not too fatty) so it dries evenly and tastes magnificent. The best cuts are sirloin or fillet.
In Germany, you can ask for Silverside (Unterschale) or Topside (Oberschale). The term Tafelspitz in German (and Austrian) butcher parlance refers to the triangular hip/rump-tip region — it can also be used, but is normally more expensive than Unterschale

Want a quick guide to German meat cuts and what they match to back home? Find more information here.

Meat

🇿🇦 Meat the Difference: A South African’s Guide to Buying Meat in Germany 🇩🇪 Looking for proper boerewors? Wondering why German Rindfleisch doesn’t taste quite like home? Or scratching your head at all the unfamiliar beef cuts? Get to know the difference between German and South African beef cuts, learn

Step 3 – Prepare Your Meat

Before the magic of seasoning begins, take a few minutes to prep your meat properly — it makes all the difference in the final texture and taste.

  • Trim the excess fat, but don’t overdo it. A thin layer of fat gives richness and that beautiful old-school flavour.
  • Slice it smart: about 20 cm long and 1 cm thick is ideal. Thick enough to stay juicy, thin enough to dry evenly.
  • Remove gristle and sinew — those tough bits will only make your biltong chewy for the wrong reasons.
  • Cut with the grain for traditional chew or across the grain for a softer bite.

Take your time here — good preparation turns good meat into great biltong.

Step 4 – Baste and Season

Now comes the heart of the process — where your kitchen begins to smell like home.
Every South African has their own “secret” spice mix, but here’s a simple, traditional base to get you started:

  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Coriander
  • Brown Vinegar – Use approximately 30 ml of vinegar per 1 kg of meat, or follow a recipe’s specific ratio, such as a 50/50 mix of vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. The exact amount can vary depending on the recipe, but 30 ml per kg is a good starting point. Ensure the meat is fully coated to help prevent bacterial growth, but avoid over-marinating, which can make the meat mushy. 

Some people like to add Worcestershire sauce to the vinegar or a touch of brown sugar to the spice mix for depth — feel free to experiment until it tastes like your version of home.

How to do it:

  1. Place the sliced meat in a sealable container.
  2. Pour over the vinegar (and Worcestershire sauce if using).
  3. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 3 hours.
  4. Pat the meat dry, then rub the spice mix evenly on all sides.
  5. Let it rest for about an hour before hanging to dry — this helps the flavours settle in beautifully.

If you’d like to explore other recipes and variations, check out a few linked below (for example, ones with chilli, garlic, or red wine marinades).

Step 5 – Drying

Here’s where patience becomes your best ingredient. 
Germany’s weather — bless it — isn’t quite suited for natural biltong drying. So, you’ll need to build or buy a dryer to keep your meat safe from moisture and mould. A simple biltong box works wonders — and if you’re handy, check out Ben Kruger’s YouTube channel for an easy DIY guide.

Drying tips:

  • Make sure the meat pieces are well spaced — they should never touch.
  • Keep the air circulating and dry, ideally around 20–25°C.
  • Drying can take 3–7 days, depending on your preferred texture.
  • Softer? Shorter drying time.
  • Tougher, classic style? Let it hang longer.

And then — that moment. When you slice into your first piece and the aroma hits you — it’s South Africa, right there in your German kitchen.

Resources on the Internet:

Biltong spices

The following shops sells Biltong spices

Lemon Pepper Kompanie

As long-time South Africa fans, we started with passion to import original South African spices in high quality directly from Durban. We now have a large fan base in Germany, Switzerland and Austria – including many South Africans. In addition, we have successfully offered South African braai courses for several years. Unique spice creations such as real

Saffa Shop

A variety of South African products Homemade biltong, boerewors, droëwors and chilli bites. Lamb chops. Maize Meal and Samp Maltabella, Jungle Oats, Kreemymeelm and ProNutro Rooibos, Five Roses, Ricoffy, Frisco and Milo Alcoholic drinks like Klipdrift Brandy, JC le Roux,  Sedgwick’s Old Brown, Savanna, Hunter’s, Lion Lager and many more Seasonal – Gem Squash Homemade fish paste

Die Spens Amersfoort

Die Spens is the largest South African shop in the EU. With more than a 1500 products available from South Africa as well as products from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Namibia & Australia. With 2 shops located in the Netherlands: Amersfoort & Eindhoven. Located close to the highway and easily reachable from all over the Netherlands,

Biltong

The following shops sells Biltong

Die Spens Eindhoven

Die Spens is the largest South African shop in the EU. With more than a 1500 products available from South Africa as well as products from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Namibia & Australia.

SA.TISFY

Boerewors and biltong made in Luxembourg by South Africans.

Gunii Products

We all long for a taste of home and Gunii offers top-quality Biltong, Droewors and other products the way you remember it. (Online Store Only)

Christys Küche

  Hi, I’m Christy, a South African living in Düsseldorf since 2018. Prior to leaving SA, I ran my own catering business. I also had my own restaurant, KOMBUIS in Melville, which specialised in

Kiefer Cuisine

At Kiefer, it is important to us to bring the authentic taste of South African gourmet biltong to the German community. After living in South Africa for over 30 years, Stefan has developed a

Runder Biltong

Runder Biltong is a young owner-run company, based on the outskirts of Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Owners Kyle and Wesley, a South African and Dutch duo have been in operation for  2 years now and

Mopani Braai

South African meat and sausage specialities made in Germany My motto in life is “Love goes through ones stomach”. I plan to devote more time to making a difference and let love go through

Saffa Shop

A variety of South African products Homemade biltong, boerewors, droëwors and chilli bites. Lamb chops. Maize Meal and Samp Maltabella, Jungle Oats, Kreemymeelm and ProNutro Rooibos, Five Roses, Ricoffy, Frisco and Milo Alcoholic drinks

INDLU design store

Herzlich Willkommen im INDLU design store !!! Bei uns findest Du modernes und einzigartiges Design überwiegend aus Südafrika und anderen afrikanischen Ländern für Dein Zuhause, zum Tragen und zum Verschenken. Lerne die Vielfalt und

Die Spens Amersfoort

Die Spens is the largest South African shop in the EU. With more than a 1500 products available from South Africa as well as products from the United Kingdom, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Namibia & Australia.

Trockenfleischmanufaktur-Allgäu GmbH & Co. KG

Unser Familienunternehmen produziert seit nun mehr als 15 Jahre Trockenfleisch von höchster Qualität. Unsere Produkte werden aus bestem Rindfleisch hergestellt. Des weiteren verzichten wir auf jegliche Zugabe von Chemie. Das heißt, wir verwenden ausschließlich

Boerewors.be

Real South-African Boerewors, Droëwors and Biltong in Belgium. Buttermilk rusks delivered to your door By taking our family-trusted farm recipes and spices, we’ve turned our boerewors into exceptional works of art. With just the

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