I recently tried the Chakalaka brand for the first time, and I’ve got to say—I'm officially hooked. As someone who loves bold, hearty flavors with a bit of a kick, this was right up my alley.
What stood out to me the most was the balance—spicy, but not overwhelming. You get that warm, satisfying heat layered with rich, savory depth. I had it with grilled chicken and some flatbread, and it instantly elevated the whole meal. It’s that kind of flavor that feels homemade, like someone’s secret family recipe passed down through generations.
The texture was spot on too—chunky and robust, not watery or overly processed. You can tell real ingredients went into this. I’ve even started mixing it into rice dishes, scrambled eggs, and honestly, just about anything I can get away with.
It’s the kind of pantry staple I didn’t know I needed. Full of soul, spice, and South African goodness. Highly recommend if you’re looking to level up your meals with something that feels authentic and exciting.
We are always looking for new healthy ways to liven up meals for the family. Once I read the mission statement of the founder and saw the recipe suggestions, I just had to try it!
“Chakalaka is about coming together through shared meals and stories. We make it possible for people to connect and fully experience the vibrant flavors of life in an easy to prepare, healthy and fun meal.”
We first had the mild with salmon, rice & beet salad. It was totally a hit! There are endless possibilities in the recipe suggestions so you can keep it simple or go crazy! Next we tried the medium spice with steak tips, wild rice & chicken breast. It was a different experience to the salmon with the mild mix. I lean vegetarian. So I like that it can be vegan if you prefer. It added plenty of oomph and at only 150 calories a serving, but so satisfying, it’s a great choice!
The history of the origins in South Africa is interesting, first created by miners in the 1950’s. The versatility of this dish makes it a great staple to keep in hand in your pantry! Thank you Chakalaka for trusting me to try out your new product. It’s a winner!
I tried the Mathata spicy Chakalaka Dry Bean Mix. This is the spiciest of the flavors Chakalaka offers. The packaging looks nice and is easy to open. The instructions were simple and making the beans was easy and not time consuming. The cooked beans had a nice robust flavor with a true spicy kick, if you are a true fan of hot and spicy this is definitely the flavor for you. It made for a tasty and filling lunch time meal.
I tried the Medium spicy Chakalaka Dry Bean Mix. The packaging looks good and is easy to open. The instructions were simple and making the beans was easy and not time consuming. The cooked beans had a nice robust flavor with a good spicy kick but not too much, it was just right for a medium spice. It made for a tasty and filling lunch time meal.
I tried the Mild No Mathata Chakalaka Dry Bean Mix. The packaging looks appealing and is easy to open. The instructions were simple and making the beans was easy and not time consuming. The cooked beans had a nice robust flavor with no discernible hot flavor to it. If you someone who doesn’t like much spice in a filling bean meal, this is certainly the flavor of option for you. It was a filling and quick lunch meal.