If you’ve ever tasted authentic South African biltong, you’ll know immediately — it’s not the same as ordinary dried meat snacks.

Real biltong is made slowly, traditionally, and with care. It’s not heavily processed, pumped full of sugar, or cooked at high temperatures. It starts with quality beef, simple spices, vinegar, salt, and time.

At The SAFFA Shack, we use premium New Zealand beef and traditional South African methods to create biltong the way many South Africans remember it growing up.

Biltong vs Jerky

People often compare biltong to jerky, but they are very different products.

Jerky is usually cooked with heat and often contains sweet marinades and preservatives. Biltong is air-dried over several days, which creates a richer texture and deeper flavour. The result is tender, savoury beef with natural character and satisfying flavour.

Quality Starts With The Meat

Good biltong can never come from poor-quality beef.

Every now and then we receive beautifully marbled cuts that produce exceptional biltong with incredible flavour and texture. No two batches are ever identical because real meat naturally varies — and that’s part of what makes authentic biltong special.

We believe in using proper ingredients and taking the time needed to make it right.

A Snack That Actually Satisfies

Many customers enjoy biltong because it is high in protein and naturally filling. Whether you’re travelling, working, training, hiking, or simply avoiding ultra-processed snacks, biltong is a satisfying option that people have enjoyed for generations.

Bringing South African Tradition To New Zealand

For many South Africans living in New Zealand, biltong is more than just food — it’s part of home, family, rugby weekends, road trips, and tradition.

We’re proud to bring authentic South African-style biltong to Hawke’s Bay and to customers across New Zealand who appreciate proper handcrafted food.

If you’ve never tried real biltong before, this is where to start.

The SAFFA Shack
“You get what you see and you get it now!”