THE GREATEST GARDEN ON EARTH
"The wildflower biome at the southern tip of Africa is the greatest natural garden on earth, not only because of its unsurpassed floral diversity, breathtaking scenery and novel flavours that the world is only now discovering, but also because it holds the 'seeds' of human consciousness. Unearthed in Cape coastal caves is some of the world's earliest evidence of human creativity and abstract thought dating back 164 000 years. Fynbos vegetation already covered the landscape at the time of the emergence of this consciousness in homo sapiens, 'sapiens' meaning wisdom. By experiencing the ancient flavours of Fynbos today, it could be said that we reach into the depths of our origins and sense the first flowering of symbolic thought, the cornerstone of consciousness."
Giselle Courtney
The South African Fynbos® range of indigenous gourmet herbs is a world first, leading a global flavour evolution and defining a distinctive South African culinary identity with botanicals unique to the Cape Floristic Region.
The Cape Town Fynbos Experience® is a guided tasting of this ancient ‘flavour trail’, a sensory connection to modern human origins.
fynbos FARM
Our Fynbos farm in the Cape Winelands is a microcosm of this Cape Floristic Region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 90 000 square kilometers from Port Elizabeth in the southeast to the top of the Vanrhynsdorp plateau in the southwest. We're all about capturing the natural flavours and scents of a selection of the 7000 botanicals that comprise the Fynbos biome. This private estate is the home of the Cape Town Fynbos Experience® and the South African Fynbos® culinary, lifestyle and gifting range.
fynbos FOODIE
Become an instant Fynbos Foodie with South Africa's first range of indigenous herbs and seasonings, novel flavours found only at the southern tip of Africa.
fynbos FLAVOUR WHEEL
Our in-house Flavour Wheel is a pioneering guide for meal pairing ideas that sensationalise everyday dishes with uniquely South African flavours.
fynbos EXPERIENCES
We love to share our knowledge of Fynbos flavours in the form of a guided tasting and MASTERCLASS called the Cape Town Fynbos Experience® at our farm on the slopes of the impressive Hawequas Mountains, Wellington (75km from central Cape Town). Thursdays 10h00-14h30.
"A sensory immersion that takes you on an ancient flavour trail beyond the constraints of time to a mixology of veld and flower, awakening the inner explorer."
We also love to share why the Fynbos biome is THE GREATEST GARDEN ON EARTH in the form of curated tours and talks.
fynbos GIFTING
The widest selection of Fynbos gifts delivered anywhere in South Africa. Celebrate the flavours of South Africa with a Fynbos Foodie Tasting/Kitchen Kit and link to our online Tasting Guide.
fynbos DECOR
Bring the outside in with our signature Fynbos images on tableware and homeware.
fynbos STOCKISTS
Enjoy our store and please also support our amazing stockists.
Stockists – South African Fynbos
fynbos ON TV
Episode 9 | The Taste Master SA | The Fine Dining Fynbos Challenge - YouTube
FROM OUR KITCHEN TO YOURS
Our in-house Fynbos Flavour Wheel is designed to unlock the unique flavour sensations of South African Fynbos. Discover this indigenous flavour trail with our pairing suggestions and meal ideas.
South Africa's culinary flavours derive from edible varieties of Fynbos, a family of ancient botanicals described in Dutch and Afrikaans as fine bush. They comprise the greater portion of the Cape Floristic Region with some 7000 recorded species.
Cape Town's Table Mountain is at the centre of this globally acclaimed biological hotspot.
FYNBOS TASTING MASTERCLASS
AN ANCIENT FLAVOUR 'TRAIL'
A tasting of South Africa's novel culinary identity from the greatest garden on earth, a sensory connection to modern human origins.
Immerse yourself in all things Fynbos at a guided tasting with Giselle Courtney overlooking the Cape Winelands valley of Wellington.
Explore South Africa's ancient, indigenous edibles and learn how to pair Fynbos flavours with everyday meals to create unique flavour sensations from the southern tip of Africa. Also explore the natural health benefits of edible Fynbos.
PROGRAMME 10h00-14h30
Fynbos Tasting of eleven botanical naturals and infusions, a light tapas-style lunch seasoned by you with the South African Fynbos® range of herbs, seasonings and infusions followed by a scenic guided Fynbos walk on the farm.
BOOKINGS
By appointment - 066 2255722 or info@southafricanfynbos.com
R1 495 per person
We welcome private groups on alternative dates: min 6 people, max 32
EVERY THURSDAY IN OUR BOTANICAL CELLAR
7 March - availability
14 March - fully booked
21 March - fully booked
28 March - fully booked
4 April - availability
11 April - availability
18 April - fully booked
25 April - availability
2 May - fully booked
9 May - fully booked
16 May - fully booked
23 May- fully booked
30 May - availability
6 June - availability
13 June - availability
20 June - fully booked
27 June - availability
4 July - availability
11 July - availability
18 July - availability
25 July - availability
1 August - availability
8 August - availability Women's Day event
15 August - fully booked
22 August - availability
29 August - fully booked
We look forward to welcoming you.
Testimonials
KNOW YOUR EDIBLE FYNBOS
HONEYBUSH - Cyclopia species
Honeybush is a sweet herb adding a delicate honey-blossom flavour to sticky marinades, onion soup, casseroles, butternut and sweet-potato wedges, sago pudding, milk-tart and cup-cake icing. Toast lightly and sprinkle over oven-roasted veggies.
ROOIBOS - Aspalathus linearis
Rooibos herbs are fruity with notes of caramel and rosehip. Pair with caramelised onions, cherry tomato sauce, sweet potato mash, roasted butternut, gruyere omelette, breakfast eggs, crispy chicken, tomato-bredie and add Rooibos salt to olive oil splashed vanilla ice-cream.
BUCHU - Agathosma betulina
Buchu is the most sensational of all the Fynbos herbs, transforming everyday flavours into mouth-watering experiences. Pair with seared picanha, braaied line-fish, tray-baked chicken, lamb shank, flambéed chicken livers, salmon sushi and tomato salsa.
KNOW YOUR EDIBLE FYNBOS
RHINO BUSH - Dicerothamnus rhinocerotis
Rhinobush is piney adding a delicate resinous flavour to grilled rib-eye, Karoo lamb, picanha and pork kebabs. Add to wok-seared chilli-garlic cabbage, grilled mushrooms, arancini, risotto, bitterballen and croque monsieurs. The delicate piney resin melts into seared food.
SNOW BUSH - Eriocephalus africanus
Woody Snow bush has a wild rosemary flavour with a hint of pepper and adds incredible depth of flavour to a creamy mushroom sauce, Karoo lamb meatballs, tzatziki, confit garlic potatoes, puy lentil salad, yoghurt carrot salad, beef carpaccio, prawn orzo and feta focaccia.
CANCER BUSH - Lessertia frutescence
Cancer bush is a bitter herb with a hint of stevia-like sweetness and notes of pea. It is ideal for adding depth to vegetable dishes like grilled baby marrow, Rösti and smoky bacon-green-bean salad. Use sparingly as the herb is really bitter, but it's great for experimental cooking.
KNOW YOUR EDIBLE FYNBOS
ROSE PELARGONIUM - Pelargonium capitatum
Irresistible Rose pelargonium is intensely fragrant and adds a distinctive spicy rose flavour to syrupy koeksisters, sticky malva pudding, scones and clotted cream, Moroccan rice, nutty buckwheat salad, rose marmalade and strawberry ice-cream.
MINT PELARGONIUM - Pelargonium tomentosum
Cooling Mint pelargonium adds a minty-geranium vibrancy to zucchini fritters, lentil-feta salad, cucumber ribbons, bulgur mushroom salad, goat’s cheese couscous, pear and walnut salad, cream cheese brioche, cocktail rissoles and white chocolate truffles.
CAPE MOUNTAIN SAGE - Salvia chamelaeagnea
Cape Mountain Sage is herbaceous with strong notes of sage. It pairs well with lemon-butter kingklip, creamy walnut tagliatelle, grilled haloumi burger, butternut lasagne, onion lentil loaf, brandy infused chicken liver pâté, ground pork stuffing and blue cheese gnocchi.