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Droewors (pronounced “drewer-vaws”) is a traditional South African air-dried sausage made from ground beef, coriander, black pepper, salt and vinegar stuffed into a natural casing. DJays Gourmet has been making droewors in Perth for over 40 years using the same traditional spice blend and production methods. This guide covers what droewors is, how it’s made, how to store it, and all the ways to eat it, from straight out of the bag to chopped through salads, stews and grazing boards.
Ask any South African what droewors is and they’ll tell you it’s one of the tastiest sausages in the world.
But droewors is no ordinary sausage. It’s an air-dried beef sausage steeped in Southern African cultural heritage – dry yet succulent, savoury and spicy, meaty and moreish and packed with protein and other healthy nutrients.
If you know, you know – but if you’re new to this icon of the snack universe, this article gives you the lowdown on all things to do with droewors including what it is, how it’s made, its nutritional profile, how to store it, how to eat it and most importantly, where to buy Australia’s best droewors.
The name says it all.
Droewors means ‘dry sausage’ in Afrikaans (one of the 11 official languages of South Africa) and the literal pronunciation is ‘drewer-vaws’.
The sausage is made from ground beef (and sometimes ground lamb) spiced with coriander seeds, black pepper, salt and a little vinegar stuffed into a natural casing and then air-dried to a chewy snappiness.
It comes in lengths which can be broken into bite-sized mouthfuls with some manufacturers also making their products in differing thicknesses. The production methods and traditional recipe of droewors have remained unchanged for generations and today, droewors is known and loved worldwide as a quintessential South African snack which can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere at any time.
And whilst the traditional flavour is still a universal favourite, there are now plenty of different options for the adventurous snacker such as chilli droewors, garlic droewors and smoked droewors.
Droewors dates back centuries to the time when early Dutch settlers in South Africa had to find ways of preserving foods which would sustain them on long pioneering journeys and which wouldn’t spoil in the harsh heat.
These traders and travellers adapted their European sausage-making techniques to create a lightly cured, spicy air-dried sausage which was nutrient-dense and which could be stored for extended periods – and hence droewors was born.
The blend of ground meat, a little bit of fat, aromatic spices like black pepper, allspice, cloves, nutmeg and whole coriander seeds, plus a dash of brown vinegar for curing coupled with the natural air-drying process (which takes a couple of days) means the snack is dry and snappy to the touch, yet has a moist internal chewiness and distinctive spicy savouriness that is difficult to describe but impossible to forget!
DJays Gourmet’s time-honoured spice blend and natural maturing process under the expert eye of our professional butchers and droewors technicians ensures a consistent ‘not-so-dry’ dry sausage which packs a delectable balance of taste and texture.
Because it’s high in protein and low in carbohydrates, sugar and salt – droewors is a smart choice when it comes to healthier snacking. It’s also packed with other essential nutrients like iron and zinc.
Obviously the nutritional profile differs between manufacturers, so you should read the packaging information to see that it’s right for you. Should you choose to buy DJays droewors, you can trust that ours is made from the finest freshest all-natural ingredients including premium 100% grass-fed Aussie beef and no added nasties.
To give you an idea of how DJays droewors stacks up from a nutritional perspective, 100g contains around 1464 kJ of energy, 56g of protein, 4g total carbohydrates and 1.9g of sugars.
As a general rule, the protein to carb ratio of droewors makes it popular snack choice for people wanting a sustained energy release without the sugar crashes that come with high carb/high sugar foods. The high protein content of droewors also makes you feel fuller for longer, so it’s the perfect satisfying snack for active bodies.
Unopened packs of droewors can be kept in the pantry or anywhere that’s cool and dry and out of direct sunlight. The shelf life is around four months for unopened packs, but always check the use-by date on the packaging.
Once opened, the product can be stored at room temperature in cool and dry conditions for no more than three days, preferably in an airtight container or paper packet as opposed to a plastic bag. This is because droewors contains a level of fat and you want to minimise the likelihood of the fat going rancid or the product ‘sweating’ and going mouldy.
If you plan to store your droewors for longer than 72 hours (could you really resist devouring all of it for that long?), then you should keep it in the fridge. Droewors can also be frozen – ideally in a vacuum-sealed pack.
There’s really no right or wrong way to munch on droewors – but be warned, once you start, it’s hard to stop!
Droewors is literally the ‘anywhere, anytime’ snack. It’s mess-free and easy to transport and store, plus it’s packed with heaps of the good stuff so it’s the ideal companion for healthy-minded people who’re want hassle-free convenience, taste and satisfaction.
Droewors is quintessentially South African, but you can get the real thing right here in Australia.
The DJays Gourmet family has been making quality droewors for over 40 years, using time-honoured techniques and authentic South African recipes. Ordering droewors online is simple and easy and with our fast and efficient shipping, you can have your favourite snack delivered to your door, anywhere in Australia.
Droewors is a traditional South African dried sausage. The name means “dry sausage” in Afrikaans and is pronounced “drewer-vaws.” It’s made from ground beef (sometimes with ground lamb) spiced with coriander seeds, black pepper, salt and vinegar, stuffed into a natural casing and air-dried until chewy. Flavour variations include chilli, garlic and smoked versions alongside the traditional recipe.
Unopened droewors keeps well in cool, dry conditions away from sunlight for around four months. Always check the use-by date. Once opened, store at room temperature in a cool, dry spot in an airtight container or paper packet (not a plastic bag, as this can cause the fat to go rancid or encourage mould). For storage beyond 72 hours, refrigerate or freeze in a vacuum-sealed pack.
Droewors is high in protein and low in carbohydrates and sugar, which many people find makes it a satisfying snack that keeps hunger at bay. DJays Gourmet droewors is made from 100% grass-fed Australian beef with no added nasties. Per 100g it contains approximately 56g of protein, 4g total carbohydrates and 1.9g of sugars. It’s also a source of iron and zinc.
You can eat droewors straight from the pack. Grab a stick and break it into bite-sized pieces. It also works well chopped into salads, egg dishes, quiches or slow-cooked stews for an umami hit. It’s a natural on charcuterie and grazing boards, and a favourite with sundowners around a campfire. Because it needs no refrigeration and creates no mess, it’s ideal for gym bags, lunchboxes, hiking packs and long drives.
Both are traditional South African dried meat snacks, but they’re made differently. Biltong is made from whole cuts of beef that are cured and air-dried. Droewors is made from ground meat stuffed into a sausage casing and dried. Biltong has a steak-like texture; droewors has a chewy, snappy bite. Both are high in protein and low in carbohydrates.
Arron Zamel has been General Manager of DJays Gourmet since 2015 and under his expert leadership, the company has cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading supplier of packaged jerky and biltong.
His strong family connection to South Africa, his marketing and management degree from Monash University, his technical expertise plus his experience as a successful entrepreneur and import/export business owner made him the ideal candidate for the challenging position.
Additionally, Arron’s innovative approach to management, his proven brand-building credentials, his strong customer focus and youthful energy have ensured that DJays Gourmet’s high-quality biltong and jerky have become Australia's dried meat treats of choice.
He understands traditional South African flavours and the precision techniques required to create truly authentic biltong, jerky and droewors (dried sausage). Part of his job is overseeing operations at DJays' purpose-built facility in Perth, WA where tons of Australian beef goes into making premium dried meat products each month for distribution to retail and wholesale customers across Australia.
For more insights into Arron’s world, visit the DJays Gourmet website, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @djaysgourmet.