A Taste of Home: African Foods That Bring Back Memories

There’s something powerful about food. One bite, one smell, one familiar flavour — and suddenly you’re back home. For many Africans living in New Zealand, food isn’t just about eating. It’s about memory, comfort, and connection.

At Taste of Africa, we see it every day. Customers walk in “just to have a look”… then spot something they haven’t seen in years and light up instantly. People come in just to find African foods that bring back memories for them.

Biltong: More Than a Snack

Biltong isn’t just dried meat — it’s road trips, rugby games, family gatherings, and school lunches.

Whether you grew up with thick-cut beef biltong, chilli bites, or fatty cuts wrapped in paper from the butcher, the taste instantly takes you back. It’s rich, savoury, and deeply nostalgic — and for many, nothing else quite compares.

If you know, you know.

Boerewors & the Sound of the Braai

Few things say home like the smell of boerewors sizzling on the braai.

It’s Sunday afternoons, friends arriving early, kids running around, and someone always “just checking” the wors a bit too often. Served in a roll, with chutney or mustard, boerewors is comfort food at its finest — and one of the most-missed flavours for South Africans abroad.

Snacks That Take You Straight Back

Some memories come in small packets:

• Maputi eaten straight from the bag

• NikNaks with that unmistakable crunch

• Chutney-flavoured chips that don’t exist anywhere else

• Creme Soda drinks

These snacks aren’t fancy — but they’re familiar. They remind you of corner shops, school tuck shops, and family road trips where snacks were half the excitement.

Mrs Ball’s & the Taste of the Table

There’s something special about the staples that lived permanently in the pantry.

Mrs Ball’s Chutney isn’t just a condiment — it’s part of the meal. On wors, on sandwiches, with stews, or alongside a roast. That sweet-and-spicy balance is instantly recognisable and deeply comforting.

It’s the flavour that quietly ties meals together — just like it did back home.

For Those Missing Home — and Those Discovering It

Not everyone who shops at Taste of Africa grew up with these foods — and that’s part of the magic.

For some, it’s about reconnecting with memories.For others, it’s about discovering something new, authentic, and full of story.

African food is bold, honest, and full of heart — and once you try it, it tends to stay with you.

A Little Piece of Home, Right Here in NZ

Taste of Africa isn’t just a grocery store. It’s a place where:

• Stories are shared

• Memories are sparked

• And flavours from home live on

Whether you’re feeling homesick, curious, or just craving something different — there’s always something here waiting to take you back.

Come in, have a browse, and find your taste of home.