The Taste Master Junior

1. The Favourite Ingrediant Challenge

Air Date: 2024-07-30

It’s the season premiere of The Taste Master Junior. Twelve of South Africa’s best teen bakers compete in weekly challenges to claim the title. Who will rise to the top?

2. The Leftover Pizza Challenge

Air Date: 2024-08-06

It’s the first elimination challenge of the season, and the bottom six must bake to stay in the competition. Who will be heading home?

3. The Tropical Cake Challenge

Air Date: 2024-08-13

This week on The Taste Master Junior the top ten embark on a flavour journey to a tropical island. Working in pairs, they need to bake a multi-layered cake inspired by Tropika’s tropical flavours. Plus, they meet their first guest judges of the competition, Mimi and Holly from the hit cooking show “Baking with the Reys”.

4. The Family Favourite Pudding Challenge

Air Date: 2024-08-20

It’s elimination week as the bottom six must bake for a place in the next round! For this challenge, Gabriella, Jahzara, Lieschen, Mabontle, Markus and Lehakwe must channel their family favourite and present the judges with their best warm and comforting pudding paired with Clover Custard. For this challenge Fritz and Zola are joined by guest judge, Food Content Creator: Priyanka Govender. Who will be safe and whose time in The Taste Master Junior kitchen is over?

5. The Tik Tok Challenge

Air Date: 2024-08-27

This week on The Taste Master Junior the top eight explore the world of social media as they learn what makes a recipe go viral with some hot tips from Taste Master season 3 contestant and foodie content creator, Tahila Pillay. Then, working in pairs, they must create their own unique version of a famous online bake. Mabontle, Tineke, Jahzara, Gabby, Suzanne, Afton, Lieschen or Quinley? Who will come out on top?

6. The Milkshake and Cookies Challenge

Air Date: 2024-09-03

This week on The Taste Master Junior, It’s the third elimination challenge of the season, and the bottom six must bake to stay in the competition! It’s all about flavor pairings and each contestant is assigned a Clover Super M milkshake flavor to start their challenge. Their task is to bake the ultimate cookie to serve alongside it. For this challenge our judges, Fritz Schoon and Zola Nene are joined by young tv talent, SABC’s Kids Newsroom presenter, Bonolo Moahludi!

7. The Burger Battle

Air Date: 2024-09-10

This week on The Taste Master Junior, our top 7 contestants are treated to a burger-making masterclass by judge Fritz Schoon. They are then challenged to create their own unique burger masterpiece from scratch, including baking their own buns. Will it be a bun fight or will they achieve burger perfection?

8. The Lunchbox Challenge

Air Date: 2024-09-17

It’s elimination week on The Taste Master Junior and the bottom six find themselves back at school. 
For this week’s challenge, Afton, Gabriella, Jahzara, Lieschen, Quinley, and Tineke learn how to pack a perfectly balanced lunchbox.

9. The Pie Challenge

Air Date: 2024-09-24

This week on The Taste Master SA the top six contestants tackle a classic bake beloved worldwide – the humble pie.

10. The Celebration Cake Challenge

Air Date: 2024-10-01

Cake it till you make it! It’s another elimination week on The Taste Master Junior as contestants take on their most ambitious challenge yet: baking and decorating their dream birthday cake under the expert guidance from guest judge, Natalie Pinto Lebotschy Sweet Lion Heart. This episode promises to be fun, colourful, and full of drama for Afton, Gabby, Jahzara, Quinley and Tineke! Who will be safe and whose Taste Master Junior journey will be over!

11. The Family Favourite Challenge

Air Date: 2024-10-08

For this Taste Master Junior challenge, they must prepare a family feast with the help of a sous chef – who also happens to be their parent. It’s a big challenge, and the reward is even bigger. This episode will bring family meals to life, and showcase how food brings families together! Who will be safe and whose Taste Master Junior journey will be over!

12. The School Market Challenge

Air Date: 2024-10-15

It’s the semi-finals of The Taste Master Junior, and contestants are tasked with baking for a school market. After preparing their products in the Taste Master kitchen, they head to a local school where they must impress both the judges and their peers in order to stay in the competition! This week our judges Zola and Fritz are joined by guest judge, mom, entrepreneur and social media influencer, Mmule Setati.

13. The Grand Finale

Air Date: 2024-10-22

It’s the grand finale and our final three talented, young bakers must face off for the title of The Taste Master Junior champion! Their challenge is to celebrate Clover’s 125th birthday but first they are taken for a very special treat a visit to a historical farm to learn how people baked in the past! After their Soetmelksvlei inspiration they then head to the Taste Master kitchen for one last time!

1. Episode 1

Air Date: 2025-10-07

2. Episode 2

Air Date: 2025-10-14

3. The Boerewors Challenge

Air Date: 2025-10-21

This week on The Taste Master Junior Judge Fritz Schoon turns up the heat as our contestants grind, spice, and twist their way through the ultimate boerewors challenge. Who’ll bring the flavour?

4. The Jams & Preserves Challenge

Air Date: 2025-10-28

#TheTasteMasterJunior first elimination challenge is all about jams, preserves, and pressure. With guest judge Gabriella Esposito in the mix, who’ll spread the flavour, and who’ll get caught in a sticky situation?

5. The Fudge Challenge

Air Date: 2025-11-04

#TheTasteMasterJunior Top 10 are stirring up something sweet and serious! With Caela Berge from Oh My Fudge teaching the art of traditional fudge-making, our contestants must team up to craft creative boxes of fudge perfection from scratch. Who’s serving fudge finesse, and who’s about to crumble?

6. The Pie Challenge

Air Date: 2025-11-11

This week on #TheTasteMasterJunior the bottom six face elimination in a pastry challenge. For this challenge they must bake their own version of a garage pie with flaky pastry and a savoury fillings to secure a spot in the next round. Who will make it through and who will be hanging up their apron?

7. The Hidden Veggies Challenge

Air Date: 2025-11-18

This week on #TheTasteMasterJunior, the contestants take on a challenge that’s all about hiding veggies in plain sight. From blending to blitzing to sneaky flavour tricks, they’ll need creativity, bold ideas and clever cooking to make vegetables disappear into delicious dishes. Guided by Judges Zola Nene and Fritz Schoon, and joined by this week’s guest judge – chef and restaurateur Yolani Abrahams – the contestants must prove they can turn greens into gold. Who will master the art of hidden veggies… and who will be hanging up their apron?

8. The Seafood Challenge

Air Date: 2025-11-25

This week on The Taste Master Junior – after learning to fillet a fish from guest judge Tjaart Prinsloo, the #TheTasteMasterJunior Top 6 contestants dive straight into a seafood challenge that demands technique, confidence and serious flavour. From handling fresh fish to richness and seasoning, they’ll need sharp instincts and even sharper knives to plate a dish that’s fresh, flavourful and beautifully presented. Watch as the contestants must prove they can honour the star ingredient while still bringing their own style to the plate.

9. The Sandwich Challenge

Air Date: 2025-12-02

This week on #TheTasteMasterJunior, the Top 6 hit the road to Stilbaai for the ultimate bread experience. After diving into a sourdough masterclass at Fritz Schoon’s iconic bakery, Pain African, they’re tasked with baking their own artisan sandwich loaves from scratch and turning them into wholesome, lunchbox-worthy creations that still deliver big flavour. The contestants will need technique, intuition and creativity to prove they can transform simple ingredients into standout sandwiches. Who will rise to the challenge… and who will crumble under the pressure?

10. The Festive Treats Challenge

Air Date: 2025-12-09

It’s the season of baking with heart. 💙 This week, the #TheTasteMasterJunior Top 5 are challenged to create festive treats for a local old-age home. Using YUM YUM and TODAY® Pastry, the contestants must craft bakes that showcase creativity, technique, and flavour that is worthy of Judges Zola, Fritz Schoon, and guest judge and The Taste Master SA Season 6 winner, Lucky Masinya. With only five contestants left, every detail matters. One bake can secure their spot in the competition… and one misstep could end their journey. Who will deliver festive treats that truly stand out and who will be heading home tonight?