Tinyiko Sithole’s Taste Master SA Journey Ends But Her Celebration of Indigenous Flavours Continues

In a high-energy, sports-themed episode of The Taste Master SA, contestant Tinyiko Sithole bid an emotional farewell to the competition — but not without leaving a bold impression and a powerful message about African food heritage.

This week’s challenge was all about bringing big flavour and high stakes to the plate. Under the guidance of guest chef Dion Vengatass, the contestants were tasked with creating the ultimate game-day snack platter, judged by none other than former Springbok stars Rudy Paige and CJ Stander.

As her time on The Taste Master SA comes to an end, Tinyiko reflects on her journey so far and shares some insight into what comes next.

Tinyiko, game day is all about bold flavours and big energy. What was your inspiration behind the snack platter you prepared for this challenge?

The game-day snack platter is African-inspired. Sorghum, Marula, and Matomani are indigenous to the African continent — and all three of these ingredients are also enjoyed as snacks. The snack platter is a celebration of our food heritage.

This week’s challenge was under the guidance of Chef Dion Vengatass and judged by two rugby legends. What was it like cooking for that kind of lineup, and did it add pressure to the moment?

In every challenge, I've never cooked specifically for the judges' preferences or palates. I treated this challenge as an opportunity to let the judges into my world, and the flavours that my family enjoys and celebrates. This was an opportunity to introduce the judges to new flavours and ingredients.

The game day challenge really tested everyone’s creativity and timing. Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in the kitchen?

There's nothing I would have changed. I presented the judges with what I had envisioned, and I'm proud of that.

You’ve spoken so beautifully about the influence of your mom and grandmothers on your cooking. How does their legacy come through in your dishes?

The matriarchs have laid a great foundation for my cooking journey. My mom and grans gave me the "how to" in cooking, and through my experiments in the kitchen, I'm strengthening that foundation and adding new flavours and techniques.

You bring a unique blend of tradition and modernity to your food. How do you plan to continue building your brand and sharing that perspective with a wider audience now that your time on the show has come to an end?

My brand has always been about celebrating and documenting our traditional food. Being on The Taste Master SA season six is part of building and growing that brand. I'll continue to share my work through my cooking page, LetsCookMzansi – be sure to follow me on there!

What’s the one dish from your Taste Master journey that you’re most proud of – and why?

The Matomani wagyu burger I made was my favourite dish I made. This was an experiment that was such a hit — it proved to me that there are many ways to incorporate indigenous ingredients into our cooking. The Matomani burger is a celebration of my uncle, our heritage, and indigenous ingredients. I know my uncle will enjoy the flavours of the Matomani burger.

Finally, what’s next for Tinyiko Sithole? Are there any exciting food content plans, projects, or collaborations we should look out for?

Yebo, yessss! Stay tuned to all my social media pages for all the information. My goal is to make indigenous ingredients and traditional food accessible and visible – and I hope everyone joins me on this journey.

While her journey on The Taste Master SA may have come to an end, Tinyiko Sithole’s flavourful path is just beginning – and South Africans can expect to see (and taste) much more from her in the months to come.

Catch new episodes of The Taste Master SA’every Tuesday at 19:30 on SABC 2, with repeats on Wednesdays at 13:00 and Sundays at 16:00. For more information, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za and make sure you follow The Taste Master SA on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X.