What is braai spice?
Braai spice is a dry seasoning blend made for meat cooked over fire. It is sprinkled on before or during braaiing, and many South African blends also work in the oven, in a pan and on vegetables.
Last updated 24 October 2026 · by the Die Bees® team
Part of our guide to traditional South African spices.
What braai spice is
A braai is a South African fire-cooked meal, and braai spice is the seasoning that goes with it. Most blends are salt and pepper plus herbs and spices, mixed so that one shake covers the meat. The idea is convenience: one jar, even flavour, no measuring.
Braai spice or rub?
A rub is usually pressed onto the meat and left to sit. Braai spice can be used that way too, but it is also sprinkled on just before cooking, during cooking, or over food when it comes off the fire. Die Bees blends such as Braai Sprinkel all-purpose braai seasoning are described for all three uses.
What to cook with it
- Steak, lamb and pork chops
- Boerewors and burgers
- Chicken pieces and whole chickens
- Chips, vegetables and salads
Choosing a blend
There are blends for specific meat and blends for everything. Browse our braai spice blends, or go straight to the guide for your meat: braai chicken seasoning, braai steak seasoning or braai pork seasoning.
Always follow the directions and ingredient list on the pack. Allergen information is printed on the label.
Used in this guide
Questions people ask
Is braai spice the same as a rub?
Not exactly. A rub is usually pressed on and left to sit. Braai spice can be used as a rub, sprinkled on before cooking, or added during cooking.
Can I use braai spice indoors?
Yes. The product descriptions for Braai Sprinkel and Hoender Speserye list oven cooking, roasting and home cooking among their uses.