In the olden days farmers also known as boere would toil the lands and finally have a break in the afternoon for "boere koffee en beskuit" Coffee brewed on the coal stove would be brought to the fields in the mid-afternoon as comfort and encouragement for tired workers. Along with a lining of boerebeskuit (rusks), the cup of caffeine provided an energy boost to help the men last till sunset.

Buy Boeretroos (Farmer's Comfort) Coffee and Boeretroos Beans at Mamma

To make delicious Boere Beskuit to go with your Coffee:

• 500g butter
• 500ml buttermilk
• 15ml/1tbsp vanilla
• 8oog plain flour
• 45ml/3tbsp baking powder
• 45g bran flakes
• 250ml/ 1 cup seeds (sunflower, pumpkin or a mixture)
• 750ml/3 cups/500g all bran flakes

Melt butter over low heat. Remove and stir in buttermilk and vanilla
Mix the rests of the ingredients in a big mixing bowl.
Pour butter over and mix with hands together and make sure it’s well blended.
Press in greased bread or square baking tins.
Bake at 180 C for 1 hour.
Leave in pans to cool off. Turn out and cut in blocks when totally cooled.
Pack out onto biscuit baking trays; leave enough space to allow air to circulate around pieces. Dry at 100C for 2 to 3 hours, till it is totally dry and crispy. Keep the oven door slightly open with a tea towel.

Recipe courtesy Whale Song Lodge