Meet The Young Contestants Of The Taste Master Junior Season 2
The search for South Africa’s next culinary star is officially underway as The Taste Master Junior returns for a second season. This exciting new chapter introduces 12 of the country’s most passionate young foodies who will compete under the guidance of celebrity chef Zola Nene and master baker Fritz Schoon.
Each contestant brings a unique blend of creativity, dedication, and youthful energy to the kitchen — ready to turn their passion for food into unforgettable dishes. Here’s a closer look at the aspiring chefs stepping into The Taste Master Junior kitchen this season:
Kimberly Porter (14, Midrand)
A vibrant teen who’s been cooking since age six, Kimberly loves experimenting with everything from baking to pickling. Her favourite dishes include spaghetti Bolognese and chicken with veggies, and she takes pride in seeing how much her culinary skills have grown over the years.
Arona Yster (14, Krugersdorp)
Passionate about both cooking and baking, Arona dreams of using food to bring warmth to others. Inspired by her mom’s creativity, she loves pasta with prawns and fondly remembers helping cater a wedding for over 100 guests — a defining moment in her cooking journey.
Sarah Flowers (14, Pretoria)
Sarah is a true creative at heart who loves painting, dancing, writing, and cooking. Her favourite dishes include boeber and homemade dumplings, and she takes pride in making dumplings from scratch — a culinary feat that showcases her skill and patience.
Aphiwe Sithole (17, Germiston)
Aphiwe’s passion for food was sparked in Consumer Studies class and nurtured by his mother’s support. When he’s not in the kitchen, he’s cycling with his dad. His favourite dish to make is shepherd’s pie, and joining The Taste Master Junior is his proudest achievement yet.
Tshenolo Chimuka (17, Johannesburg)
Known as Nolo or Tshetshe, this math-loving guitarist has a big heart for food. He enjoys cooking meat dishes and once prepared a full family meal solo — a confidence-boosting moment that solidified his love for cooking.
Joy Nxumalo (16, Pretoria West)
Joy’s passion was shaped by cooking alongside her grandmother and mother. Deeply family-oriented and faith-driven, she loves making mac and cheese with mince and treasures the joy her meals bring to loved ones.
Matthew Harvey (16, Steinkopf)
Matthew discovered his culinary flair during lockdown through Fatima Sydow’s YouTube recipes. He loves cooking lasagna and even started selling his food for pocket money — proof of his drive and entrepreneurial spirit.
Leandri Joubert (15, Pretoria)
Leandri’s passion lies in baking, with dreams of opening her own café one day. From mastering two-minute noodles to crafting perfect pasta and baked goods, she finds joy in sharing her food with others.
Rorisang Moloi (15, Sebokeng)
Bright, creative, and confident, Rorisang began by helping her mom and granny in the kitchen. She enjoys experimenting with both traditional and modern recipes, with Steak Diane being her signature dish.
Tyler Robinson (17, Cape Town)
With a chef dad as inspiration, Tyler is determined to follow in his father’s culinary footsteps. His favourites include Beef Wellington and carbonara, and one of his proudest achievements is creating a three-course school breakfast that earned top praise.
Kodi Bertish (15, Cape Town)
Adventurous and artistic, Kodi balances surfing and photography with his love for food. Inspired by his mom and nana in Scotland, he enjoys tapas-style dishes and is proud of creating a festive mozzarella-and-thyme Christmas tree starter.
Isaiah Jaganathan (16, Johannesburg)
Isaiah’s cooking journey began with his grandmother. A lover of bold flavours and Mexican cuisine, his proudest kitchen moment was preparing an entire Christmas dinner for his family — solo!
Season 2 of The Taste Master Junior promises to showcase South Africa’s brightest young culinary talents as they chop, stir, and plate their way to glory. With creativity, determination, and pure passion on display, these contestants are ready to prove that the future of food is in exceptional hands.
“We’re thrilled to once again partner with The Taste Master Junior, a show that celebrates imagination, confidence, and the simple joy of food. At Clover, we believe that great meals create connections — and there’s no better way to inspire future chefs than by giving them a platform to shine.”
Chipo Kamukwamba, Brand Manager at Clover, shared:
Catch The Taste Master Junior Season 2, brought to you by Clover, every Tuesday at 7:30pm on SABC2, with repeats on Wednesdays at 1pm and Sundays at 4pm.
For more information, visit www.thetastemaster.co.za and follow The Taste Master SA on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and X.
