Braai

South Africa

Braai is regarded by some as another word for barbecue, in that it serves as a verb when describing how food is cooked and a noun when describing the cooking equipment, such as a grill. The traditions around a braai can be considerably different from a barbecue, even if the method of food preparation is very similar. While wood was formerly the most widely used braai fuel, in modern times the use of charcoal, briquettes and gas (gas braai) has increased due to their convenience, as with barbecues elsewhere in the world. There has, however, been a renewed interest in the use of wood after the South African government started its invasive plant species removal programme. Many households now own both a gas and wood or charcoal braai. A portable charcoal or wood braai is called a braai stand.