Ex-pats who long for a taste of home dream not only of boerewors and biltong, but also for a range of grocery cupboard staples that have become household names in South Africa:

Simba Chips (and especially NikNaks!) – Simba was launched in 1957 by Leon Greyvenstein, the son of Ouma Greyvenstein, who started Ouma Rusks. One of its most popular brands, NikNaks, was launched 50 years ago. Keeping it South African, NikNaks is now available in a fusion of two flavours, called Ama-Collision.

We can’t think of a better way to show someone kindness on #WorldKindnessDay than getting them their favourite packet of Simba chips. 🤗

Which flavour will you be sharing? Remember Mzansi, sharing is caring! #SimbaEnaliThatThing pic.twitter.com/4n4ZukK08J

— Simba Chips (@SimbaChipsSA) November 13, 2021

Ouma Rusks – Started as a home industry in a small Eastern Cape Town in 1939.

Mrs HS Ball’s Chutney – This iconic sauce has its origins in a home kitchen. The Mrs Ball in the chutney’s name – Amelia Ball – learnt to make the chutney from her mother in the late 1880s.

Black Cat Peanut Butter – Started (under another name) in 1926 in Potgietersrus (now Mokopane)

Bakers biscuits – Originally called L Bauman & Co and started in Durban in the mid-1880s, the brand’s name was changed to Bakers Limited in 1915.

Chappies – Did you know? This famous bubble gum was started in Johannesburg in the late 1940s.

Rooibos – Caffeine-free and grown in the Cederberg mountains in South Africa, rooibos is in demand worldwide for its antioxidant properties. Following a European Union (EU) ruling in 2021, only leaves grown in SA’s Cederberg region can be sold as ‘rooibos’ in EU countries and several others outside the bloc.

All Gold Tomato Sauce – Launched in 1908 in Paarl in the Western Cape.

Amarula – This cream liqueur hit the shelves in 1989. It is distilled from the marula fruit.

Other South African greats

*Most people know that Pratley Putty – invented in Krugersdorp in the early 60s – was used to repair the San Francisco Bay’s 2.7km-long Golden Gate Bridge and was used by Nasa aboard its Ranger moon-landing craft.

But did you know that it is being used to secure and restructure endangered coral reefs around Mnemba Island near Zanzibar?

Oceans Without Borders says coral fragments are collected from several sites around Mnemba Island. These fragments are glued with Pratley Putty to a small cement disc, which is then added to the coral table.

Another interesting Nasa fact is that Dr Liam Pedersen, a former Nasa robotics researcher who helped create the Mars rover, was born in Cape Town and educated at Rhodes University. According to the university, he is also credited with pioneering the decision-making part of the ‘brain’ used in the robotic rovers now on Mars.

*Not many people know that pinotage wine has its origins in South Africa. Courtesy of pinotage.co.za here are the origins of SA’s signature wine: In 1925, pinot noir and cinsault, known then as hermitage, were successfully crossed to create pinotage grapes. In 1941, the first barrel of pinotage wine was produced in Stellenbosch. 

*Another SA claim to fame is the sweet piquanté pepper, sold as Peppadews. It was discovered in the Eastern Cape in 1993 and cultivated in Limpopo. 

*We all know Elon Musk and Charlize Theron started life in SA, but did you know that the author of the iconic Lord of the Rings books, JRR Tolkien, was born in Bloemfontein in the Free State in 1892?