Food - Drink
South Africa's Classic Chutney May Actually Be From Canada
By NATASHA BAILEY
South African chutney is a mouthwatering condiment with sweet and spicy flavors, and may include tamarind, garlic, chilies, cumin, turmeric, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, and more. The brand Mrs. Ball's Chutney is particularly popular throughout South Africa, but this chutney isn't purely a product of the country where it's most famous.
This popular chutney brand's origins actually has roots in Canada, and it has quite the dramatic backstory. According to Mrs. Ball's website, the origin of their chutney begins in 1852, when a seafaring ship named the SS Quanza left Canadian ports en route Australia, but ended up wrecking off the coast of East London, South Africa.
Captain Adkins, the captain of the ship, and his wife, Sarah, settled in the area, and Sarah passed down her chutney recipe to her daughter, who became known as "Mrs. Ball" when her chutney product took off across South Africa. While the events of this story are debated, Mrs. Ball's chutney is no doubt a true international product.