South Africa now sits at number twelve in the world’s olive oil ranking, despite producing under one per cent of the global harvest. In April 2026, De Rustica Olive Estate took first prize at the inaugural NOVA Awards in Córdoba, Spain. Mardouw Olive Estate landed at number twenty-four in the EVOO World Rankings — the highest position any South African producer has reached. The 2026 harvest is in bottle now, the new-season oils are on shelves, and South African olive oil is having a moment that has been twenty-five years in the making. This is the buyer’s guide for anyone wondering where to start, what to look for, and where the high-altitude Karoo orchards fit into the picture.
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The Swartberg Pass Road Trip: A Complete Guide to Stops, Safety and Where to Eat
The Swartberg Pass is a 27-kilometre gravel road that climbs 1,585 metres through one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in South Africa. Built by Thomas Bain between 1881 and 1888 and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it connects Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert in 1.5 hours of driving. This guide covers timing, named stops, vehicle requirements, the Die Hel detour, where to refuel and where to eat at the end of the pass.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil Benefits: What the Research Says, How Much to Take, and Why Karoo EVOO Matters
Extra virgin olive oil is one of the most-studied foods in nutritional science. A 2025 peer-reviewed review of cardiovascular outcomes found regular EVOO consumption improves protection against inflammation, oxidative stress, blood pressure and endothelial function. This guide sets out exactly what the research says, how much you actually need to take (in tablespoons and in Rand), how to recognise an oil that delivers the benefit, and why Karoo-grown EVOO consistently shows higher polyphenol content than most imported alternatives on the South African shelf.
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South African Olives: A buyer’s guide to varieties, curing and where they come from
South Africa now grows olives in commercial volumes across the Western and Northern Cape, with the Karoo, the Swartland and the Klein Karoo each producing distinct cultivars and styles. This guide explains the main South African olive varieties, how table olives are cured, what to look for on a label, and where to buy South African-grown olives direct from the producer. Written by Swartrivier Farm, a working olive farm.
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The Best South African Olive Oils of 2026: Why The World Is Finally Paying Attention (And Where Prince Albert Fits In)
South Africa now sits at number twelve in the world’s olive oil ranking, despite producing under one per cent of the global harvest. In April 2026, De Rustica Olive Estate took first prize at the inaugural NOVA Awards in Córdoba, Spain. Mardouw Olive Estate landed at number twenty-four in the EVOO World Rankings — the highest position any South African producer has reached. The 2026 harvest is in bottle now, the new-season oils are on shelves, and South African olive oil is having a moment that has been twenty-five years in the making. This is the buyer’s guide for anyone wondering where to start, what to look for, and where the high-altitude Karoo orchards fit into the picture.
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Why Café O on a Working Karoo Olive Farm Has Become Prince Albert’s Most Loved Lunch Stop
Drive four kilometres out of Prince Albert village along Kruidfontein Road and the Karoo does what the Karoo does: stripped earth, stone, scrub, the long flat horizon broken only by the Swartberg Mountains in the distance. Then the road bends, the gate opens onto Swartrivier Farm, and the landscape changes completely. Lawns. Fountains. A working olive grove of 3,000 trees. A shaded verandah looking out over the orchard to the mountains. This is Café O, the on-farm restaurant at O for Olive, and it is the contrast — green oasis after the dry drive — that visitors remember first. The food is what brings them back. For the broader picture, see our Prince Albert restaurants comparison.
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Can You Cook with Olive Oil? The Science Says Yes — Here Is Why
A 2018 Australian study tested 10 common cooking oils by heating them to 240 degrees Celsius over extended periods. Extra virgin olive oil produced the lowest quantity of harmful compounds of all oils tested — outperforming coconut oil, avocado oil and every seed oil including sunflower, which is the default cooking oil in most South African kitchens. The persistent myth that you cannot cook with extra virgin olive oil has been debunked by the Culinary Institute of America, the USDA and peer-reviewed research. EVOO is not just safe for cooking. It is the most stable option available.
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Olive Farms to Visit in the Western Cape: A Guide for Every Route
The Western Cape produces 93 percent of South Africa’s olive oil, and the farms that make it are spread across three distinct regions — the Cape Winelands (30 to 90 minutes from Cape Town), the Breede River Valley and Route 62 corridor (90 minutes to 3 hours), and the Karoo (4 to 5 hours). Each region offers a different experience: quick tastings paired with wine in the Winelands, award-winning estates along the Breede River, and immersive farm-to-table experiences in the Karoo. Here are the olive farms worth visiting, organised by route.
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Olive Oil for Skin: What the Research Says About the Benefits and the Risks
Olive oil contains up to 300 times more squalene than any other vegetable oil — the same compound human skin produces naturally to stay moisturised and protected. A 2024 clinical trial published in Medicina found that olive oil polyphenols applied topically reduced wrinkles by 34 to 52 percent in 30 days. But there is a caveat: a University of Sheffield study found that topical olive oil can damage the skin barrier in some people, and its moderate comedogenic rating makes it unsuitable for oily or acne-prone skin. The emerging consensus is that eating high-quality cold pressed extra virgin olive oil may deliver better, safer skin benefits than applying it directly.
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A Weekend in Prince Albert: The Perfect Karoo Itinerary
Prince Albert is a five-hour drive from Cape Town, has more restaurants per capita than most towns in the Western Cape, sits at the foot of a UNESCO World Heritage mountain pass and offers stargazing so clear that professional astronomy operators have set up here permanently. A two-night weekend covers the Saturday market, a Swartberg Pass drive, an olive farm tour with tasting, award-winning cheese, at least two memorable dinners and a night sky you will not see anywhere near a city. Here is how to spend it. For a full guide, see our Prince Albert restaurants.
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Cold Pressed Olive Oil: What It Actually Means and Why It Matters
Cold pressed olive oil is extracted at temperatures below 27 degrees Celsius using mechanical force alone — no heat, no chemical solvents. This single constraint preserves over 90 percent of the antioxidants, polyphenols and volatile flavour compounds that make extra virgin olive oil valuable for both health and cooking. Heat extraction, by contrast, destroys up to 30 percent or more of these compounds and produces a bland, nutritionally diminished oil. At O for Olive, every bottle of extra virgin olive oil from Swartrivier Farm in Prince Albert is cold pressed within 24 hours of harvest to preserve the full spectrum of what the olives contain.
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Prince Albert Restaurants: Where to Eat in the Karoo’s Favourite Foodie Town
Prince Albert has more restaurants per resident than almost any town in the Western Cape, and each one draws on the same Karoo pantry: slow-roasted lamb, artisan cheeses from Gay’s Guernsey Dairy, cold pressed olive oil from Swartrivier Farm and seasonal produce from the surrounding valley. From a six-table kitchen that has served the same menu for 24 years to a working olive farm where lunch comes with mountain views and an olive tasting, here is where to eat in Prince Albert and what each restaurant actually offers in 2026.
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