A Cape Town chef has reinterpreted the traditional Cape Malay koesister using Rooibos in a competition celebrating South African heritage. The 2026 World Koesister Day Competition, held on September 6 at Makers Landing in Cape Town, invited chefs to reimagine the beloved snack with Rooibos as the designated heritage ingredient. The event, part of South Africa’s Heritage Month, highlighted the fusion of traditional recipes with modern culinary techniques. Contestants were challenged to create new versions of the koesister, a baked snack with a sweet, spiced filling, while staying true to its cultural roots. The competition drew attention to the role of local ingredients in preserving and evolving culinary traditions.