Rusks & Biscuits

Rusks & Biscuits

Ouma and Bakers rusks, biscuits and crackers, the South African snacks made for dunking. Shipped across Canada from our shop in Barrie, Ontario.

South African rusks and biscuits, the whole tin

Two things happen in every South African kitchen before seven in the morning. The kettle goes on and a rusk goes into the coffee. There is no Canadian version of this. A rusk is not a biscotti and it is not a baby teething biscuit, it is a sweetened dough baked, cut and dried until it will hold together in hot liquid for exactly as long as you need it to. Everything on this page is the real thing, brought over rather than approximated.

South African beskuit, and how to dunk it properly

Beskuit is the Afrikaans word and it is the older one. The technique matters more than people admit: in and out, three seconds, no swirling, and never leave it sitting. Buttermilk is the standard and the one most households grew up on. Muesli and three seed are the modern versions, condensed milk is the sweet one, and Ouma Bettie's is the small-batch version with raisins. Coffee or rooibos, both work, and everybody has a strong opinion about which.

South African Store Canada

Ouma, the rusk everyone actually means

When a South African says rusks they mean Ouma, the same way they say Tippex instead of correction fluid. We carry buttermilk, condensed milk, muesli and three seed in the 500g boxes, plus the Bettie's range. It is our second best selling product after the biltong, which tells you how many South African households in Ontario are quietly running out of them. The full Ouma range sits on its own page if that is all you came for.

Rusks

Bakers: Romany Creams, Tennis, Eet-Sum-Mor and Provita

Bakers is the biscuit half of this page. Romany Creams are the chocolate coconut ones that disappear first, Tennis are the coconut classics, Eet-Sum-Mor is shortbread that dares you in the name, and Choc-Kits, Marie, Ginger Nuts and Boudoir fingers cover the rest of the tin. Provita in multigrain, wholewheat and ancient grains is the savoury one, and Salticrax is what goes under cheese. All brought over, none of it substituted.

Coffee & Tea

Frequently asked questions

A rusk is a sweetened dough baked, cut and dried until it holds together in hot coffee or tea without falling apart. A biscuit is a normal baked biscuit meant to be eaten on its own, like the Bakers range on this page.

In and out, about three seconds, no swirling, and never leave it sitting or it falls apart in the cup. Buttermilk is the classic Ouma flavour for this.

Yes, everywhere in Canada. They keep well and travel well, and most people order them alongside tea, coffee or a wider grocery box.

Buttermilk is the standard most households grew up on. Muesli and three seed are the modern options, condensed milk is the sweet one, and Ouma Bettie's raisin is the small-batch version.