# Guidance requested on Chutney as an alternative to cranberry sauce

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [November 2, 2026, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352 "2026-11-02T17:23:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352/21 "2026-11-03T13:35:23Z")

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Just bear in mind that that stuff (amba) is _powerful_ - a little goes a long way.

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**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352/22 "2026-11-03T13:43:04Z")

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> [@Alessan](#):
>
> [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amba\_(condiment)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amba%5C_(condiment))
> 
> > [@](#):
> >
> > Created by Iraqi Jewish merchants in Bombay who purportedly shipped mangoes in vinegar back to Baghdad

(Mango pickle is a traditional condiment in south India and probably not actually “created” or invented by merchants in Bombay; but definitely imported by them and by Indian immigrants to the Middle East in the early modern Indian Ocean trading network.)

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**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352/23 "2026-11-03T13:45:49Z")

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> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> Anyone familiar with this product? Apparently it is ubiquitous in South Africa

The label uses the Afrikaans word “blatjang”, which if meant non-generically is a traditional South African chutney made from dried peaches or apricots.

> **[Blatjang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blatjang)**
>
> Blatjang is a South African chutney made preferably fresh or dried fruit (usually apricots) and chillies cooked in vinegar and a staple in most South African households, served as a condiment with South African meat dishes like bobotie and braai. Blatjang is a South African chutney made of dried fruit (usually apricots) and chillies cooked in vinegar and a staple in most South African households, served as a condiment with South African meat dishes like bobotie and braai. Blatjang has Cape Malay ...

The website for the product does list dried peach and apricot as prominent ingredients.

[https://www.mrsballs.com/our-products#product-results\_e=6](https://www.mrsballs.com/our-products#product-results_e=6)

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**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\
**Post date:** [November 3, 2026, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guidance-requested-on-chutney-as-an-alternative-to-cranberry-sauce/1034352/24 "2026-11-03T15:10:04Z")

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> [@Alessan](#):
>
> Just bear in mind that that stuff (amba) is _powerful_ - a little goes a long way.

ThelmaLou chugs a big spoonful and drops to her knees as she gasps, _“Did anyone get the number of that bus?”_ And she’s out.

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