This author has yet to write their bio.Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud Kirsty van der Walt contributed a whooping 25 entries.
The words on an olive oil label are not marketing. They are a grade, set by chemistry and a tasting panel, and the gap between “extra virgin” and plain “olive oil” is the difference between fresh juice from a fruit and a refined, deodorised product blended back to taste of something. Once you know what […]
The Swartberg Pass is a gravel road over a mountain, and that means it closes more often than people expect, usually with little warning after heavy rain, snow, or rockfall. If you are planning to drive it, the honest answer to “is it open?” is always the same: check a live source on the day, […]
Prince Albert is a small Karoo town in the Western Cape, tucked at the foot of the Swartberg Mountains about four hours’ drive from Cape Town, and it has quietly become one of South Africa’s most loved country escapes. People come for the Swartberg Pass and stay for the slow mornings, the Victorian streets, the […]
Olives are one of the few snacks that are genuinely good for you, and table olives in a bowl earn their place for the same reasons olive oil does. They are rich in monounsaturated fat and plant antioxidants linked to heart health, lower inflammation and better cholesterol. However, there’s one catch: the salt. This guide […]
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is one of the most studied foods in nutritional science. A 2025 peer-reviewed report of cardiovascular outcomes found regular EVOO consumption improves protection against inflammation, oxidative stress, blood pressure and endothelial function. This guide summarises what the research says, how much you need to take (in tablespoons), how to recognise […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Find Us
Swartrivier Farm is 4 km from Prince Albert on the Kruidfontein Road (turn at the Prince Albert Golf Club and follow the signs).
