Sweet signs of spring
This year’s blood orange harvest at Babylonstoren was abundant, but citrus isn’t over yet – our Tango naartjies offer a last, sweet burst of vitamin C. As we pick the last of the waterblommetjies, we look forward to harvesting tender asparagus and majestic artichokes – best with farm butter and fresh lemon. Our berry block is coming alive with mulberries and blueberries to enjoy off the bush, while in the Glasshouse, strawberries take root to delight visitors throughout spring. We’re also harvesting aromatics like lime, curry leaves, and lemongrass to brighten broths and curries.
Click HERE to shop the spring harvest.
Beautiful boslelies
Soon, strollers along the footpath beneath the wild olive trees will be rewarded with the first sightings of our beloved boslelies. In honour of these robust blooms, the Puff Adder walkway will exhibit our exquisite potted clivia collection. Clivia expert Brent Reid prefers not to put an exact number to our growing collection but it’s safe to say they number in the thousands. Expect to see these beauties bursting open from mid-September onwards.
Shiraz stars
Days may be stretching a little longer with more bursts of sunshine, but in the beautiful Boland it’s still very much red wine weather. We’re thrilled our Shiraz received top honours at the recent Shiraz SA Awards in Paarl. Babylonstoren Shiraz 2022 made the Top 12, while Babel 2023 ranked in the Top 5 shiraz blends. Cheers to our stellar cellar and vineyard teams!
Click HERE to shop Babylonstoren Shiraz.
Exceptional tastemakers
On the produce side, our gardeners, farmers and food artisans shone at the Aurora International Taste Challenge – the food industry’s Olympics – earning 13 gold medals and 19 awards in total. From classic South African favourites like boerewors to innovative creations like spiced rooibos gelato and sundried tomato pesto, the winning list inspires a spring picnic, a charcuterie platter, or a braai.
Hearty heritage feasts
For your Heritage Day braai, stock up on our Gold award-winning boerewors and the most fragrant lamb chops south of the Namib, from the Farm Shop or online. Soetmelksvlei’s Old Stables Restaurant will serve bobotie, lamstertjies on the braai, and sweet classics like sago and souskluitjies – the perfect celebration of hearty
home cooking.
Workshops in September
It’s pruning season and our garden décor team wastes no time in weaving their magic. Join a workshop to create baskets, graceful partitions and ornaments from plant materials. Looking to expand your braai repertoire beyond the same-old? Executive chef Schalk Vlok’s veg grilling workshop is exactly what you need. At Soetmelksvlei, traditional craft and cooking sessions will have you stitching and kneading at leisure – also a perfect introduction to this 19th-century working farm.
Babylonstoren
- 2 Sept – Grow your own spring vegetables
- 3 Sept – Spring décor from the garden
- 10 Sept – Encounter the beautiful world of fynbos
- 17 Sept – Craft your own homemade soaps
- 18 Sept – Taste of spring: asparagus and artichokes
- 23 Sept – Discover the secret life of insects
- 24 Sept – Veg on fire! Get grilling with our Babel head chef
- 30 Sept – Broaden your gardening horizons with indigenous trees
Soetmelksvlei
- 4 Sept – Traditional handicrafts: colour crocheting
- 5 Sept – Bake your own: make butter and buttermilk scones
- 12 Sept – Bake your own pies: four ways with traditional butter pastry
- 13 Sept – Make a wooden milk stool
- 19 Sept – Berry feast: bake your own frangipane tart
- 20 Sept – The art of bookbinding
- 26 Sept – Master meat: make your own salami
Click HERE to book a workshop.
