HAPPINESS IS… A ‘MAMABERA KOEKSISTER’ IN EACH HAND 😜

Mamabera’s Koeksisters Premix, is an eggless premix, that is convenient AND EASY to follow, with the perfect balance of spices and sweetness. 

For my readers that do not know what a koeksister is, it is a Traditional South African Confectionery, made from fried dough that is dipped into a sugar syrup. A typical Afrikaner koeksister, is sweet and dripping with the sugar syrup. However, we also get a CAPE MALAY version of koeksisters, which is a spiced version, and although it is also dipped in a sugar syrup, it isn’t heavily syruped. If you are travelling to South Africa from abroad, this is one South African sweet treat you should taste.

Some 16 years ago, was the 1st time I had tried a CAPE MALAY version of koeksisters, When my aunt Khatija, had brought along a tupperware full of these yummy spiced koeksisters for us to try. My better half and I, fell instantly in love with them. After the passing of the lady that made those koeksisters, We have tried many others, which sadly did not HIT THE SPOT like the initial ones we enjoyed.

A couple Months back, I had been sent a product drop off, by a lovely lady MARIAM PARUK ISMAIL. LO and BEHOLD, to my delight, it was a CAPE MALAY KOEKSISTER PREMIX. Mariam had also sent along a few that she had prepared, and I needed to simply dunk them into some sugar syrup. THAT 1ST BITE, AND I KNEW, I HAD FOUND MY PERFECT CAPE MALAY KOEKSISTER, in MAMABERAS KOEKSISTER.

SO, a few weeks back, I finally got down to preparing the PREMIX I RECEIVED. The Premix packs are in 1kg batches, for now, and has a simple and easy to follow instructions on the back of the pack. All I needed was a little oil and Warm water to bring the dough together. Mamaberas Koeksisters Premix, has taken away the laborious tasks of measuring each ingredient. The Spicing used, is made from freshly ground spices, and the spice balance is simply perfect. I had not used all of the Water Stipulated, but as mentioned added the water gradually until I was comfortable with the texture of the wet dough. The only time consuming bit is the With the dough resting, and proving(proofing) between each handling.

With that said, the joy of sitting down with our favourite cuppa, and sinking our teeth into a, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, as well as a perfectly sweetened Mamaberas Koeksister, made it worth every minute spent waiting. The Joy of knowing that YOU made this yourself, with the help of MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS PREMIX of course, will make you want to do a HAPPY DANCE.
THESE MAMABERA KOEKSISTERS PREMIX, can be frozen/or kept in the refrigerator until you need to whip them up. All you have to do is bring the pack, back to room temperature and follow the instructions at the back. OOOOH, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, 1 pack of 1KG premix, makes approximately 25-30 koeksisters, depending on how big or small you shape them. BUT the best part is… AFTER FRYING THEM, and before syruping, YOU CAN STORE AWAY EXCESS KOEKSISTERS IN THE FREEZER, in smaller batches. PERFECT once again, to take out, syrup as usual and enjoy more on another day. DOUBLE THE HAPPY DANCE!!!

I was very intrigued with the story behind this brand, and have managed to Interview the lady behind this newest South African Small Business, Mariam, And this is what she had to say. Do have read through about HER AMAZING STORY, ON MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS.

FOODEVA MARSAY: Shukran for taking time to answer a few of my questions Mariam. Tell me, and my readers, a Little About YOURSELF and YOUR SMALL BUSINESS.

MARIAM (MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS): I am an educator by profession, a special needs teacher and remedial therapist in training. I am a wife to a beautiful soul, my dearest husband, my soul mate and a mum to three gorgeous children, Alhamdullilah! As a child I grew up in what I would call, “a laborious childhood”. Things were not easy and unchallenging, and my mum could not manage to maintain her home on her salary alone, hence she began making koeksisters. My mum sold koeksisters every Saturday and Sunday morning at the local CBD. I assisted with the koeksisters as a child and performed this task well into my varsity years. My mum was a single parent and worked three jobs to take care of my late brother, Zahid and myself.
The history behind our koeksister story 🙂
It all began in Marabastad,Pretoria in the early 1940’s, when South Africa had been through a Great Depression and South African people had to pick themselves up and make a living to care for their families. My late grandma, known as Aunty Jaytoon/Jaytoon Khala began making koeksisters to see to her family. My mum was just 5 years old when she began making the koeksisters with my grandma.
This was a home based business powered by women of strength in the Khan Family. After my Grandma passed on in 1980, my late mum Sabera Khan, known by many in the community as “Aunty Bera” continued the famous brand of koeksisters until her sad passing away in September 2016. (May the almighty be pleased with her & grant her the highest abode in Jannah [heaven] Ameen). People from all walks of life knew and valued this specific koeksister taste. These koeksisters have travelled to countries abroad with happy customers who cherish the flavour and taste of pure heritage from South Africa.
The name “MamaBeras Koeksisters was chosen in memory of my late brother Zahid Ebrahim Fadal. As he fondly called my mum by this name… “Mama Bera”.
My mum was also an educator by profession, a retired principal of Himalaya Secondary School in Laudium, Pretoria, known as Madam Khan in the community. It was a very somber time for my family and myself when my mum passed on, she passed away at the age of 78 years. May we be reunited again, one day in the beautiful gardens of Jannah. Ameen

FOODEVA MARSAY: WOW< AMEEN> THAT IS AMZING! What Ignited the Spark in you to Actually get started with this Business?

MARIAM (MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS): I miss my mum dearly Marriam, there is not a single dusk or dawn in which I don’t remember her, this pain is a wound which is taking many mournful months and years of healing. I wanted everyone who knew my mum and her koeksisters to remember her and to enjoy her legacy and our heritage by sharing this flavour. I promised my mum I would make the koeksisters one day. While my mum was ill, she requested that I please take over her business, as she was concerned about her customers and that they will surely miss the taste! You see our koeksister is an authentic flavour, indulgent of old-school taste and richness.
I also made the intention that they would be made in her name and for her reward. As mum got more and more ill and her decline was almost inevitable and close, we sat and spoke and I eventually took notes of her famous recipe- in stages as she could not talk very much toward the end. When mum passed on I had the inconsolable task of clearing her home. As I sorted mum’s home, I found her koeksisters in the freezer in a premix form, which she prepared beforehand and kept for later use. I then prepared them and they were absolutely perfect! Thereafter I mixed some of my own koeksisters in a premix form, according to my mums recipe and they tasted wonderful!
Then on Eid-ul-Fitr 1439, as my sister in laws and I sat and enjoyed Eid breakfast we chatted about the koeksisters and agreed that the time has come for me to begin the journey which my mum asked me to. I then decided to take the koeksisters to another level and invented the Mamaberas Koeksister Premix.

FOODEVA MARSAY: How has technology, such as computers, internet and social media, impacted on how you conduct business?

MARIAM (MAMABERS KOEKSISTERS): Oh, wow yes, social media has made a huge impact on the business. When my mum made koeksisters, she didn’t use social media or the like. She managed her business by word of mouth and cell phone. Today we have implemented the use of social media platforms to advertise our business and it has assisted in getting the word out there and has reached out to many people, both young and old. Clients from all over South Africa has heard about Mamaberas and are so excited to make their own koeksisters by themselves! It is a low cost platform of advertising and reaches many people far and wide. Social media has helped us connect with our customers and with my mums previous customers via Facebook and Instagram. I have had the pleasure of meeting a beautiful lady named Aunty Sumaya. When she first contacted me on DM on Instagram she spoke of how she enjoyed this koeksisters as a young girl in Marabastad. It turned out Aunty Sumaya was a loyal customer of my grandma in Marabastad and bought from my mum as well. She was overjoyed when she found us on Instagram! Our brand is a distinct brand with distinguished taste. The proof is in the taste and our client’s satisfaction.

FOODEVA MARSAY: I can surely ATTEST to that… the PROOF IS DEFINITELY IN THE TASTE. What are the biggest issues for running this business?

MARIAM(MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS) : I would say being able to keep up with production lines as time progresses and having sufficient manpower with the ability to function efficiently in this day and age is of vital importance. Communication with clients and keeping the channels of social media chats open and ongoing is
important. Keeping clients happy and delivering customer satisfaction is our aim. My mum would have wanted everybody happy.

FOODEVA MARSAY: AND, Where do you see your business in the next year? In the next five years maybe?

MARIAM(MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS): I would like our product to be marketed in bakeries, bistro cafes, retail stores and deli stores. Gosh in the next year I see this product being marketed abroad, especially to fellow South Africans in the many countries abroad. I have not thought about the next five years, (LOL).

FOODEVA MARSAY: FANTATSTIC!!! Do Please let my readers know how they can PURCHASE YOUR PRODUCT, and on which social media platforms to catch you on.

MARIAM(MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS): Our products can be purchased at various stores and agents in the following areas:
• Pretoria: Laudium, Raslouw, Centurion and surrounds 
• Johannesburg, Germiston & Midrand: Marlboro, Mayfair West, Benoni 
• Krugersdorp: Azaadville
• Ermelo 
• Port Elizabeth
• KZN- Stanger, Overport, Sea Cow Lake
YOU CAN ALSO…
Follow US on our  INSTAGRAM HANDLE , for agent details, listed under highlights.
OR
Find us HERE ON FACEBOOK
OR
Drop us an email at mamaberaskoeksisters@gmail.com

HOW AMAZING IS THIS SMALL BUSINESS VENTURE STORY!!! I do hope you have enjoyed reading a little more about MAMBERS KOEKSISTERS, and don’t forget to head on over to the above mentioned intstagram and Facebook pages to show them some love, and of course buy yourself some of those premixes. I know am already buying my self a few more packs of them.

DO DROP ME YOUR THOUGHTS, IN THE COMMENTS SECTION, ON THIS SOUTH AFRICAN SMALL BUSINESS FEATURE.  Wishing you a BLESSED AND HAPPY WEEKEND AHEAD, I know I am going to be enjoying another batch of those MAMABERAS KOEKSISTERS, WHEN are you getting yourself some?

LOVE MARRIAM