Cape Malay cuisine is a distinctive and flavorful culinary tradition that originated with the Cape Malay community in South Africa. This community is primarily descended from Malay, Indonesian, and African slaves and political exiles who were brought to the Cape Colony by Dutch settlers during the 17th and 18th centuries. Cape Malay dishes are known for their aromatic and spicy flavors. Common spices include cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, coriander, cumin, and turmeric.