The Ultimate Guide To Biltong Making – From Tradition To Innovation

At Kalahari Khabu, we don’t just make biltong; we live, breathe, eat, and sleep it. We’re on a mission to bring the world’s best biltong to meat lovers across the globe. Our roots run deep in the meat industry, stemming from the small town of Adelaide in the Eastern Cape, where our family has been crafting biltong for generations. With over 80 years of collective experience, we understand every nuance of this beautiful, age-old craft.

Biltong began with the Khoisan Bushmen, the first masters of meat preservation, long before refrigerators or modern technology. They relied on the hot, dry African climate to sun-dry strips of game meat, ensuring they had a lasting food source.

Later, the Boer Afrikaners, comprising Dutch, German, and French settlers, perfected the curing process by introducing vinegar and spices and evolving biltong into the delicacy we know today. Even the British settlers couldn’t resist its charm, and biltong quickly became a staple in every South African home.

Today, the world has embraced biltong, but making it successfully depends on the environment. Different methods have emerged over time to counteract humidity and ensure consistent results. Here’s a breakdown of how biltong is made around the world and why different conditions call for different techniques.

Traditional Winter Drying On The Stoep

One of the oldest and purest ways to make biltong is to simply hang it outside under a covered stoep (veranda) during winter. A gentle, dry breeze and mild sun provide the perfect drying conditions. However, this method only works in areas with low humidity and no flies.

Early 20th Century Wooden Biltong Box With Fans

As biltong-making evolved, butchers in the early 1900s began crafting wooden biltong boxes for their customers. These biltong dryers had small fans to increase airflow, creating a more controlled environment for drying meat. This marked the beginning of modern biltong makers.

The DIY Cardboard Biltong Box Setup

A simple and cost-effective method is using a biltong box made from cardboard with a small light bulb and a computer fan. The fan keeps the air circulating, while the bulb adds slight warmth to help with the drying process. This setup is a popular entry-level solution for home biltong makers.

Plastic Biltong Box With A Fan And Heat Source

Similar to the cardboard biltong box, this method replaces the box with a more durable plastic container. The fan and heat source work together to create a stable drying environment. Compared to the cardboard version, this setup is slightly more hygienic and long-lasting.

Budget-Friendly Plastic Biltong Makers

Several companies now produce affordable plastic biltong makers based on the same principles as the DIY models. These units come with built-in fans and heating elements, making them accessible for anyone wanting to try their hand at homemade biltong.

The KK Biltong Boss Range

Enter the modern era with our KK Biltong Boss range, a collection of beautifully designed biltong chambers catering to beginners and professionals. These sleek, programmable, and hygienic biltong dryers feature a closed drying environment that prevents contamination and ensures consistent results. With gentle, controlled airflow, they make it incredibly easy to succeed in producing perfect biltong.

Our range includes:

KK11 Biltong Box

A compact biltong dryer ideal for home users. It has a 24-hour drying function and can hold up to 5kg of wet biltong slabs. Perfect for personal use or small batches.

KK12 Biltong Maker

A mid-range biltong chamber that offers a 96-hour drying function, allowing users to process up to 7kg of wet biltong slabs at a time. This unit is great for enthusiasts looking to scale up their production.

KK16 Biltong Machine

The ultimate home and small commercial biltong dryer. It also features a 96-hour drying function and can handle up to 25kg of wet biltong slabs. Typically, you can either produce 25kg of biltong per week or a mix of 12kg of biltong and 30kg of biltong smalls, such as snapsticks, leaves, and nuggets. This could be a huge profit opportunity if you have the market.

The Kalahari Khabu Heritage Stainless Steel Biltong Box

Launching worldwide in June, our Kalahari Khabu Heritage Biltong Box is designed for those who value time over efficiency and appreciate the slow, methodical process of crafting the perfect biltong. With its top-extraction airflow system, this biltong dryer can house up to 25kg of wet biltong slabs at a time, ensuring a slow, even drying process.

Kalahari Khabu Commercial Biltong Machine

For larger-scale production, our Kalahari Khabu Commercial Biltong Machine follows the same principles as the Heritage model but is designed to handle up to 100kg of wet biltong slabs at a time.

Kalahari Khabu Industrial Biltong Machine

Our Kalahari Khabu Industrial Biltong Machine can process between 250kg and 500kg of dried product per cycle. It operates at low electrical costs, utilising advanced technology to optimise the drying process while keeping expenses down. With precise humidity and temperature control, it creates the most efficient drying environment.

The Future Of Biltong – Your Journey, Your Method

No matter where you are, Kalahari Khabu has a biltong maker for you. Whether you prefer a traditional method, a simple DIY biltong box, or a high-tech biltong machine, there’s no wrong way; just your way.

The capacities listed above are achievable with experience. Efficient slicing maximises yield; aim initially for 70% capacity, and you’re doing well. Biltong-making should be fun and rewarding! It’s a process of perfecting a craft that has stood the test of time.

Let’s share this beautiful tradition with the world. Happy drying, and welcome to the biltong revolution!

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