h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

You think you've seen and tasted all there was to sun-dried meat, right?

WRONG!

I believe the South Africans have got the art of dried meat down to a tee. Biltong is their version of Jerky, which is flavoured by spices and dried under the hot, African sun. The meat used can be beef, springbok, reedbok, any other 'bok' deer kinds that allow themselves to be caught, and also ostrich. Reebok is also available, but beware of sweaty soles and inferior Nike substitutes.

When dried, the meat resembles some kind of dog treat. I have many times brought it home from SA to England and offered it to friends, only to see their faces distort in disgust. Well, they don't know what they are missing. So it's sun-dried flesh or dog chew? Yeuch! However, the ones who had open minds had to admit that it was actually quite tasty.

Droe Wors means 'Dried Sausage' in Afrikaans. The principle is very similar, whereby sausages are left hanging in the sun to dry. The sausages are also quite well spiced with a high meat content. The result is another tasty snack along the same line. Perfect for taking with you when driving out into the game reserve to spot lion.

-- Nurgling

Sounds lovely. If you're ever in Endicott, bring some along. We can swap some farm-fresh chicken.

I'm a bit perplexed at the entry insisting that jerky is either beef or turkey, myself. I've had elk and venison jerky, and there are plenty of other kinds as well.

I think of it all as "meat chewing gum".

Any meat can be dried, which implies that any meat could be jerky or biltong.
I just returned from Africa recently, there I had some Impala Biltong, tasted great when washed down with beer....

Ah, yes, come to think of it, I have had venison jerky. My old geometry teacher killed a deer and made him into jerky. Well, if you want to add to it, just send more info to one of the editors. I mean, what I wrote is only the basis for info on jerky, after all. I hope somebody does write something more about it.

I wonder what domestic cat tastes like?

Probably like chicken. Doesn't EVERYTHING taste like chicken?

No. Albatross tastes like human.

uuurrrrggghhh.....

Mr Twilight, you very scary!

No worse than the chickens around here who attack once in a while...hmmm...if the rooster DOES manage to take a chunk out of me, I suppose he'd taste like human then too.

um? So what does human taste like?

mmmmmmm... Human Jerky.... might be good with beer?

Most humans are so saturated with beer already you wouldn't know if it were a good combo. Neeeeeeeeeext!

I feel some bizarre need to inject a fact here. Must be the weather or something. Anyhow, according to those who've tried it, human reputedly tastes like rather stringy, greasy pork. That's why it's sometimes called "long pork." Hm, there may be another Guide entry in this...

Ah, we can all do with the occasional "long pork," eh, guv? Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Know what I mean?? Eh, guv? Oooggghhhh!

Long pork Guide entry now available at http://www.h2g2.com/A239889 . Suggestions welcome.

Nah, I don't need a guide entry to tell me aboot long pork. Wink, wink, eh, guv? Ooooooogggghhhhhhh!

I too am a South African, and can vouch for biltong being one of the BEST snacks to be had... next time anyone of you ppl (except fot Mr. Twilite) come down to SA give it a try... I will be going up to schotland (Glasgow) in the June July holidays and will be bringing some up for a SA friend who just doesn't get it in that banished place ... from biltong, boere vors, good traditional SA beer (castle, castle) and surprisingly cream soda...

Mmmmmm...cream soda.