The koeksister
For many South Africans, a koeksister is far more than a sweet fried pastry; it’s a piece of identity. As Wilbur Smith aptly puts it, a koeksister is ‘heritage…culture…family and history’ all wrapped up in a delicious, syrup-soaked package.
Koeksisters are crafted from a simple but magical combination of ingredients: dough, sugar syrup or honey, aniseed, cinnamon and mixed spice. Plaited strips of dough are lovingly fried to a crisp golden perfection, then plunged into ice-cold sugar syrup.
Biting into a koeksister is a sensory journey like no other. Picture a crunchy crust that gives way to a liquid syrup centre.
Many South Africans can recount a cherished koeksister memory from their lives. These syrupy delights are more than just a snack; they’re a comforting connection to the past. They’re akin to the comfort foods found in cultures worldwide, offering solace and nostalgia.
Koeksisters’ roots can be traced back to Dutch settlers who arrived in South Africa in 1652, bringing with them recipes for doughnuts and a sweet bowtie-shaped pastry made from pasta dough.