BILTONG -  from Fenella My handy tip is this: South Africans have a snack similar to beef jerky but better. It is not made with any sugar at all and according to my South African carb book it has zero carbs. It is available from all South African butchers.  BILTONG is beef. It is rubbed in salts and spices and then hung up in a drying cupboard to dry out. There is no sugar involved. Biltong is not cheap but it does last a long time. I bought $16 worth a week ago (ask for it to be COARSELY sliced) and my 13 year old son and I have been snacking on it for 7 days and we are only halfway through. So if one person were to snack on it then $16 would last them 3 to 4 weeks ? There is one called Beef on the Beach in Pakuranga (Highlands Park) Shopping Centre close to Foodtown. The phone number is 09 534 4563. They do courier biltong out to people. There is also one in Browns Bay called Jannsen's. Because biltong is such a popular snack amongst South Africans you can be certain it will be for sale in all South African butcheries in NZ. There are a lot of South African butcheries around Auckland and I am sure there must be others around NZ. Another place which sells and couriers South African stuff is Zebra Zu ( 09 575 3203). You can buy it in a hunk and slice it as you need it, or you can ask for it to be coarsely sliced or sliced thin. They wrap it in brown paper. NEVER store your biltong in a sealed Tupperware or container, it will go mouldy. It is best kept in a brown paper bag, open to air flow, in a cool place - that way it will last for weeks. If the salty tang is too much for the unaccustomed palate you can dip the slices in a dip made from cream cheese with a slice of avocado mixed in.  If people like things such as salami and beef jerky, they will probably like biltong, it is less sweetish and more salty. You can take a few slices with you to the movies etc as a snack too. You may need a sugar free drink with it as it can make you thirsty (just like potato chips). Hope some New Zealanders will give it a try.   BACK