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 160 000 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 - founder South African Fynbos® and creator of the Cape Town Fynbos Experience®
flavour EVOLUTION
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 southern tip of Africa.
sensory CONNECTION TO ORIGIN
The Cape Town Fynbos Experience® is a guided tasting of this ancient ‘flavour trail’, a sensory connection to modern human origins.
Fynbos Botanical Cellar, Wellington - google maps reference CAPE TOWN FYNBOS EXPERIENCE
SEE EVENT SCHEDULE BELOW
"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."
world HERITAGE SITES
The Cape Floristic Region is a UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning 90 000 square kilometers in the shape of a smile from Port Elizabeth in the southeast to the top of the Vanrhynsdorp plateau in the southwest. This is a global biodiversity hotspot and also contains a series of rock shelters archaeologically linked with the origin of modern human behavior. These UNESCO World Heritage Sites collectively form the Cradle of Human Culture.
fynbos FARM
Our Fynbos farm in the Cape Winelands is a microcosm of the Cape Floristic Region with critically endangered Swartland Renosterveld. We're all about capturing the natural flavours and scents of a selection of the 7000 botanicals that comprise the Fynbos biome.
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 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.
CAPE TOWN FYNBOS EXPERIENCE®
AN ANCIENT FLAVOUR 'TRAIL' • an immersion in all things Fynbos at a guided tasting with Cape Town Fynbos Experience® creator Giselle Courtney overlooking the Cape Winelands valley of Wellington.
Experience an intimate connection with some of the world's most ancient botanicals and flavours unique to the southern tip of Africa. Learn how to pair Fynbos flavours with everyday meals to create novel flavour sensations. Also explore the natural health benefits of edible Fynbos.
FYNBOS BOTANICAL CELLAR - PROGRAMME 10h00-14h30
10h00 • A LABORATORY STYLE TASTING of infusions and edible naturals. 12h30 • FYNBOS TAPAS seasoned by you with the entire South African Fynbos® range of gourmet herbs, infused salts, pepper and vinegars with Fynbos herb butter, hummus, goat's cheese, Wellington's speciality ciabatta, olives, biltong, nuts, chocolate and estate olive oil, followed by a SCENIC FYNBOS STROLL • 14H30 ONSITE SHOPPING
BOOKINGS
By appointment • 066 2255722 or info@southafricanfynbos.com • R1 495 per person • We welcome private groups on alternative dates • minimum 6 guests, maximum 32 • Please enquire about our private luxury option.
PUBLIC EVENT SCHEDULE
October • 3, 9, 16, 24, 30
November • 6, 12, 13, 20, 26
December • 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 19
January • 14, 16, 21, 23, 28, 30
February • 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
March • 4, 6, 11, 13, 19, 25, 27
Please bring weather protection and casual walking shoes.
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.