A taste of South Africa has found a permanent home in Medstead.

Michael and Sue Roberts now have a shop from which to run their Luvbiltong business.

It was officially opened on July 23 when Alton town mayor Cllr Barbara Tansey performed a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Michael and Sue began Luvbiltong five years ago by trading from home, before becoming familiar faces at markets across Hampshire, with regular stalls in Alton, Petersfield, Alresford, Winchester, Emsworth and Hamble. They specialise in authentic South African air-dried beef snacks.

Sue said: “Biltong has its origins in South Africa, where Afrikaner voortrekkers developed the drying process as a practical way to preserve meat during long journeys across the highveld.

“The name combines the Dutch words ‘bil’, which means rump, and ‘tong’ - tongue - referring to the cut and shape of the meat.

“Luvbiltong uses prime British beef, marinated with salt, pepper, coriander seeds, red wine vinegar and gluten-free Henderson's Relish before being traditionally air-cured for around four days.”

The shop is Unit 4A at Darren and Kelly Searle’s Lower Soldridge Business Park in Medstead, where Luvbiltong’s neighbours are The Cow Shed Café, The Pottery Pantry, HART Wildlife Rescue, Groovy Grooming and ASR Fabrication.

Trading began with a special opening weekend from July 23 to 25, with music, free samples and extended opening hours from 10am to 8pm.

As well as biltong, samples included droewors, an air-dried sausage snack made from minced beef or venison spiced with coriander, and boerewors, a farmer’s sausage with high meat content, coriander spice and a distinctive spiral shape.

Luvbiltong’s regular opening hours are Thursday to Saturday from 10am to 6pm, with free samples always available.

Customers can also enjoy traditional South African desserts such as milk tart and peppermint crisp tart, with more products set to arrive soon.

For more information follow @luvbiltongsnacks on Facebook and Instagram