Boeber

Boeber is a delightful traditional Cape Malay sweet milk beverage, somewhat akin to an Indian pudding. It combines vermicelli, sago, sugar, cardamom, cinnamon, and rose water to create a rich and flavorful treat. This special drink is typically served on the 15th night of Ramadan, marking the midway point of the fast.

The origins of boeber can be traced back to the Cape Malays, whose ancestors hailed from Indonesia, East Africa, and India. It shares similarities with other dishes such as bubur lambuk in Malaysia, sawine in Trinidad and Tobago, kheer in Asia, and payasam in the Indian subcontinent.

A traditional boeber recipe includes butter, sago, vermicelli, cinnamon, cardamom, sultanas, milk, rose water, sugar, and almonds. To prepare it, you first soak the sago, then brown the vermicelli in butter. Next, you add the spices and milk, allowing the mixture to simmer until the sago turns translucent. Finally, you mix in the rose water, sugar, and almonds, completing this exquisite dessert.