What is Russian meat and why is it trending on social media?

Social media was abuzz this week with the trending hashtag, #ILoveEatingRussians after a Russian vlogger posted his reaction to a South African clip of locals talking about their love for eating Russian sausages.

Just ran across a Russian vlogger’s video reacting to how South Africans call sausages “russians”. This is so hilarious, doesn’t he know we call sausages like that? 🤣😭#ILoveEatingRussians https://t.co/RrVYnzPgpv pic.twitter.com/EDzyuU2L6z

— lingsss (@lingsss_m) August 4, 2021

The video that the Russian vlogger reacted to included statements such as: “I love eating Russians, I chop them in half and I deep fry them.”

Truly lost in translation, the Eastern Europan vlogger took the clip literally and was enraged at the thought that South Africans actually ‘eat’ Russian people without an understanding that it references a type of meat popular in South Africa.

This sparked hilarious tweets and social media posts across the country while international Russian headlines prompted anger across the Eastern European country. Other countries that have jumped on the ridiculous bandwagon include Chinese newsrooms as they report on “South Africans eating Russians”.

Things are getting out of hand in Russia guys 😂😂😂send help guys Akwatile amaRussians🥖🥖😋 😋😂😂 Visit this link for more info about #ILoveEatingRussians 🔗https://t.co/HMeT2XpQDF pic.twitter.com/jgj5uiyLsC

— Asiphe (@AsiNxiwa) August 6, 2021

With this local food trending on social media both in South Africa and abroad, we thought we would take a closer look at what it is.

What is a Russian sausage?

According to Hartlief, a South African premium meat producer, Russians can be described as sausage-shaped packed meat that has a ‘strong meaty flavour and an intense smoky finish”.

The method of producing this sausage originated in the 1900s from Russia and is rooted in a process of preserving meat. The preservation method includes curing and smoking the meat according to age-old recipes and results in a sausage that is packed with a range of spices.

South Africans react

The vloggers reaction went viral across the country resulting in South African’s sharing their love for eating Russians in a number of tweets that have left us in stitches.

The Russians are stressing over us calling sausages "Russians"

Meanwhile in my household: 👇🏿#ILoveEatingRussians pic.twitter.com/NrMv8cB9Fo

— YT: Lethabo Bopape 🖤 (@LethaboBopape_) August 6, 2021

Guys this is going viral ! 🤣

Do you think we should be worried as South Africans? #ILoveEatingRussians pic.twitter.com/XhGPfQLBYU

— Sanam Re. (@__flurr) August 6, 2021

#ILoveEatingRussians
Read more on the Article https://t.co/ath0lQw7EA pic.twitter.com/dkcUsCipud

— Missabrahamsmua (@Missabrahamsa) August 6, 2021

And we also eat French(polony)
#ILoveEatingRussians pic.twitter.com/cucMQokVcj

— Tina Snow's daughter (@tsotiseles_) August 5, 2021

I could never go a week without Fish, Russian and Chips. Tjeeeeer! Nagana K'ota without Russians 😭#ILoveEatingRussians pic.twitter.com/0XstVpE0U1

— 🇮🇹 modiboa Jnr mabuse 🇿🇦 (@Chef_Dibs) August 5, 2021

Read more: WATCH: Smoked Russian kota vetkoek