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16°C
July 6th, 2017
The nights are cooling with the approach of autumn. Almost unnoticed, the surings open up their umbrella leaves, expecting the annual rain to fall eventually.
June 19th, 2017
Fermentation and pickling are traditional methods of preserving food that have been practised across the globe for many centuries. With this age-old practice being the new flavour sensation we are experimenting with innovative flavour combinations on our Babel winter menu. Join us for a warm winter lunch and experience the taste of fermented beetroot with star anise, caraway or fermented orange juice during breakfast.
May 9th, 2017
Winter Pearmain, a delicious apple variety, is an ancient fruit grown here in our garden under the watchful eye of Oom Anton Roux. For many years he ran his own nursery, where he propagated and grew varieties of old-fashioned gems.
June 27th, 2016
Although claimed by many, the origin of Kombucha remains a mystery. Most sources attribute this “magic tea” to the Chinese, dating back over 5000 years. We have to admit that a jar of fermenting Kombucha looks like a science experiment: however, the end-product is a deliciously refreshing drink with many alleged health benefits.
May 25th, 2016
We've always been strong on botany, weak on stones. Now we're adding the palaeontological landscape of four regions of the Cape. Our team is reworking blocks in the indigenous fragrance garden with soil, rocks, and numerous plant species. We're creating small-scale versions of the Hantam, Robertson Karoo, Simonsberg and Eastern Cape.
April 28th, 2016
On the farm we use most of our olives to make extra virgin olive oil – a medium style, but complex blend of five cultivars: Frantoio, Mission, Don Carlou, Leccino and Corratina. We also preserve the whole fruits in brine or salt for the two restaurants, black calamata and green Nonchellara.
April 19th, 2016
It’s believed that station commander Jan van Riebeeck planted the first quince trees in Africa from pips that he brought from Holland. Quince trees are often used as rootstock for other fruit trees. In our garden, we’ve grafted old-fashioned medlar trees onto some quince rootstock.
February 8th, 2016
If you’ve been to the farm recently and meandered across the wooden bridge that leads to the koppie, you would have noticed that the riverbanks have been cleared to showcase our new cycad collection. We're proud to host almost all of the 41 South African indigenous cycad species.
November 6th, 2015
We're on the brink of summer, the bountiful season. Warmer days bring a new burst of new energy; farmer Hannes and team thinning out young plums and topping vines. They also planted risotto in our rice paddy, next to the vlei. You'd think you're in Po Valley of Italy, where a hundred thousand women from the South once came to tend the harvest.
October 15th, 2015
Any gardener will tell you that his art is a grand teacher of patience. One has no choice but to wait for plants to mature and bear fruit when they're ready. Especially nut trees, they're not to be hurried. We have several of these in the garden: macadamia, almond, hazel, walnut and pistachio.