TIMELESS BOTANICALS
To experience Fynbos is to enter a living archive of the planet where no less than 7,000 species hold the ancient memory of origin. This is the world’s most exciting hotspot for culinary innovation, biodiversity and archaeological evidence of cognitive human evolution - the Cape Floristic Region, a 90 000 square km UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Older than humanity itself, this extraordinary ecosystem at the southern tip of Africa is home to a diversity of plants found nowhere else on earth: fragrant, resilient and rich with natural wisdom.
Through immersive Fynbos tastings, transformative retreats and a refined range of culinary, lifestyle and gifting products, you're invited to experience a return to origin.
Whether you're sipping a wild herbal infusion, soaking in the silence of a
Fynbos-covered mountainside or gifting a thoughtful expression of South Africa, each moment is a sensory connection to the timeless.
CAPE TOWN FYNBOS EXPERIENCE®
Winter is Fynbos Flowering Time
The Cape Town Fynbos Experience® is a guided exploration of ancient flavours and fragrances that shaped the evolution of human consciousness at the southern tip of Africa: Fynbos.
In a botanical cellar surrounded by gourmet Fynbos species, you’ll experience an intimate connection to these rare botanicals of origin - sipped, inhaled and savoured - while discovering their intriguing flavour profiles, food pairings and chemistry.
Ancient Fynbos herbs possess unparalleled culinary, aromatic and medicinal qualities and their distinctive flavours and fragrances are unlike anything found in the herbal systems of the world.
To experience Fynbos is to enter a living archive of the planet where no less than 7,000 tenacious species hold the memory of origin. From rare ingredients born of deep time, the Cape Town Fynbos Experience® is a discovery of botanical mixology and the art of cooking with wild flavours.
The experience is led by Giselle Courtney, an organisational development and culinary Fynbos specialist. She is the creator of the South African Fynbos® range of gourmet seasonings and the tantalising Fynbos Flavour Wheel, putting Fynbos at your fingertips.
The programme runs from 10h00-14h30 and includes a scenic stroll on this private Wellington estate, a haven for critically endangered Swartland renosterveld.
Lunch is an experimental tapas accompanied by the entire South African Fynbos® range of gourmet seasonings and botanical infusions.
Clairvaux Estate, Wellington
(75km NE of central Cape Town)
Google maps reference CAPE TOWN
FYNBOS EXPERIENCE
THIS IS FYNBOS FLOWERING SEASON
PUBLIC EVENT SCHEDULE
AUGUST 7, 12, 14, 19, 21, 26
SEPTEMBER 2, 4, 23, 26, 30
OCTOBER 2, 7, 21, 23
NOVEMBER 4, 6, 11, 13, 25
DECEMBER 9, 11
The event schedule is subject to change without notice, please enquire about availability prior to purchasing tickets online: 066 2255722 or info@southafricanfynbos.com.
RATE PER PERSON
R2 400
PRIVATE EVENTS
Minimum 6 guests, max 32
Standard & Luxury Options
SOUTH AFRICAN FYNBOS® ORIGINS RETREAT
Embark on an extraordinary sensory journey into the living world of ancient botanicals that shaped the evolution of human consciousness at the southern tip of Africa: Fynbos.
Fynbos herbs possess unparalleled culinary, aromatic and medicinal qualities, their distinctive flavours and fragrances are unlike anything found in the herbal systems of the world. To experience Fynbos is to enter a living archive of the planet where no less than 7,000 tenacious species hold the memory of modern human origin.
Fragrant Fynbos at every touchpoint of the retreat guides a sensory discovery. The daily menus are crafted by resident chefs and the curated experiences are a sojourn of botanical mixology that includes the art of cooking with wild flavours, experimenting in nature's apothecary, revelatory walks and symbolic photography - an invitation to pause, to sense and then see. From rare scents born of deep time to immersive tastings amidst archaic landscapes, this is more than a retreat - it’s a return to the origin of self.
This exclusive getaway is ideal for five single guests or a maximum of eight sharing. It includes four full days of guided experiences and three nights in a pristine, private mountain sanctuary in the Cape Floristic Region - the sensory landscape of origin.
The retreat is led by Giselle Courtney, an organisational development and culinary Fynbos specialist based in the Cape Winelands of South Africa. She is the creator of South African Fynbos®, a nature-based approach to people development incorporating intentionally designed experiences and an accompanying range of culinary Fynbos herbs. Being older than humanity itself, these flavours of origin awaken a remembering of what it means to be essentially human: creative, intuitive and deeply alive.
RETREAT DATES
14 – 17 October 2025
28 – 31 October 2025
18 – 21 November 2025
2 – 5 December 2025
PROGRAMME & POA
+27(0) 66 2255722 or info@southafrianfynbos.com
"The concept is visionary, the setting extraordinary and the experience is profound - it's like sensory time travel."
Featured product
Fynbos Foodie Kitchen & Tasting Kit - 23 items
- Regular price
- R 1,599.00
- Sale price
- R 1,599.00
- Regular price
-
R 1,955.00 - Unit price
- per
FYNBOS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS
If you can't join us for a CAPE TOWN FYNBOS EXPERIENCE® in the Cape Winelands, then make use of our online self-guided tasting along with this comprehensive Kichen/Tasting Kit. TASTING GUIDE – South African Fynbos
"Once you have tasted Fynbos in your food, you'll want to cook with it all the time." Herman Lensing, SARIE FOOD Magazine, Summer 2022. See MENU IDEAS – South African Fynbos
Size: 40 x 32 x 11 cm
8 INDIGENOUS CULINARY HERBS - cook and bake with South Africa's extraordinary herbs from the Fynbos biome: Honeybush - Rooibos - Buchu - Rhino bush - Snow bush - Cancer bush - Cape Mountain Sage - Nutmeg pelargonium
8 AROMATIC SEASONING SALTS - season meals and snacks for a Fynbos taste sensation with our delicate mix of edible varieties and Cape west coast sea salt: Honeybush - Rooibos - Buchu - Rhino bush - Snow bush - Mint pelargonium - Cape Mountain Sage - Nutmeg pelargonium
7 MIXOLOGY TEA INFUSIONS - Fynbos leaves and twigs as natural as though you've picked them yourself. Add freshly boiled water to a personal blend and leave to steep for 5-7 minutes. Also use to make flavoured water, cordial and stock for soups, stews, poaching liquid and casseroles: Honeybush - Rooibos - Buchu - Rhino bush - Snow bush - Cancer bush - Mint pelargonium
Sale price includes delivery in South Africa
MEAL PAIRING SUGGESTIONS
Our in-house Fynbos Flavour Wheel unlocks the unique flavour sensations of some of the world's most ancient botanicals. Explore this aromatic flavour 'trail' with our meal pairing suggestions.
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 biodiversity hotspot.
VISITOR COMMENTS & REVIEWS
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.