This author has yet to write their bio.Meanwhile lets just say that we are proud Kirsty van der Walt contributed a whooping 17 entries.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Most people buy a jar of olive tapenade, spread it on a cracker and stop there. But tapenade — a blend of crushed olives, capers, olive oil and herbs — is one of the most versatile ingredients in a kitchen. It is a pasta sauce, a pizza base, a marinade, a sandwich upgrade and a […]
The Swartberg Pass is a 27-kilometre gravel road that climbs 1,000 metres through the Swartberg Mountains, connecting Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert across one of the most dramatic mountain crossings in South Africa. Built by Thomas Bain using convict labour between 1881 and 1888, the pass is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a national […]
Extra virgin olive oil is the one ingredient that turns a good braai marinade into a great one. As a natural emulsifier, it binds herbs, garlic, citrus and spices into a stable coating that locks in moisture and builds flavour — while adding the polyphenols and antioxidants that make it one of the healthiest cooking […]
A Harvard study tracking more than 90,000 people over 28 years found that those who consumed olive oil daily had a 19 percent lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, a 17 percent lower risk of dying from cancer and a 29 percent lower risk of dying from neurodegenerative disease. The health benefits of olive […]
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).
