Wednesday 19 December 2012

O' Olive tree, O olive tree...

As we start to wind down to the end of 2012 we would like to take a moment to pause, reflect, breath and get ready to rock the new year ahead.

We happily reflect on a year full of awards, honors and new things (like packaging - keep an eye out for our new tins - and Gauteng distributors).

We hope your year was also filled with exciting experiences and memorable moments. We wish you a festive season of celebrations and good times with family, friends and those close to your heart.

Be safe and rest well, we look forward to sharing more good times in the new year.

If you find yourself around a braaivleisvuur this season, be sure to try our simple lamb chop recipe:

KAROO LAMB CHOPS
Place the chops onto a tray, and make small incisions with a sharp knife. 

Add garlic and sprigs of rosemary into each incision. 
Pour four tablespoons of olive oil over the chops; then season with salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice. Allow to marinate for 1 to 2 hours. 
Heat your barbecue, add the chops and cook for 3 to 4 minutes each side – turning just once. 
Serve with bread and fresh garden salad.


Wednesday 5 December 2012

Welcome to Jozi

You see that:



That is a whole lot of our oil arriving in Johannesburg yesterday.
That's right, from Prince Albert to Jozi, with love...

Our Gauteng distributors are:

Johannesburg and surrounds
Natasha van der Berg
c. 0828514894

Pretoria and surrounds
Eedria van Eeden
c. 0833810343     

Wednesday 28 November 2012

beauty is in the olive

Sometimes we pay an arm and a leg on all sorts of well marketed beauty products for stunning skin and healthy hair - but we forget that people have been trying to look great for centuries before modern cosmetic companies started producing products in laboratories. 

As human beings we are as much a part of this planet as the plants that grow from its soil and the animals that survive in the wild. What could be better for us than natural products, straight from the earth!? What we forget to realize is something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets.

In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food (don't do it!). These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.


These are only a few ideas:
to use as a Skin Moisturizer - apply extra virgin olive oil to damp skin (when the water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness) or add a little lemon juice to the olive oil for a more bracing and refreshing feeling. The oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple.
If dry and scaly skin is a problem, mix olive oil and sea salt in an exfoliating rub and massage it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it.
Another luxurious idea is to add a few tablespoons of olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a great way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.
We will keep updating you with some healthy, handy tips... so keep visiting our blog!

Wednesday 21 November 2012

happy healthy olives

Here is the first of our Health posts - some interesting facts you may or may not have known about consuming olive oil rather than animal fats or other plant oils...


In addition to bolstering your immune system, olive oil has also been found to be effective in fighting against diseases such as:
Cancer: The phytonutrient in olive oil, oleocanthal, mimics the effect of ibuprofen in reducing inflammation, which can decrease the risk of breast cancer and its recurrence. 
Heart Disease: Olive oil helps lower levels of blood cholesterol leading to heart disease.
Oxidative Stress: Olive oil is rich in antioxidants, especially vitamin E, long thought to minimize cancer risk. Among plant oils, olive oil is the highest in monounsaturated fat, which doesn’t oxidize in the body, and it’s low in polyunsaturated fat, the kind that does oxidize.
Blood Pressure: Recent studies indicate that regular consumption of olive oil can help decrease both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

Just a spoon full of olive oil makes the health go up!

Thursday 15 November 2012

talking about a revolution

The third annual Swartland Revolution took place last weekend in Riebeek Kasteel.
Rated as South Africa's best wine event (unofficially, by those who attend the event) we are very pleased to see that our olive oil was used at lunch on Saturday with what one revolutionary described in a tweet as "the best food ever."

This picture with thanks to Sam Linsell of Drizzle and Dip.


Tuesday 6 November 2012

in good company


Just received this lovely mail:

"Dear Producer,


we are glad to inform you that, after the tasting effected by the editors Marco Oreggia and

Laura Marinelli and their Panel of Expert Tasters on over 1,000 samples from Italy and the whole world, your extra virgin olive oil has been selected for the Guide “Flos Olei 2013 - a guide to the world of extra virgin olive oil”, an instrument of information and promotion of the best olive oil producers in the world."


Wednesday 31 October 2012

Melissa's love



Melissa's the Food Store has recently relaunched their own label olive oil. They have changed the packaging of their 1L and 500ml packs and we supply the oil.


You can also buy our award winning Extra virgin cans in their stores nationwide.






Melissa's has seven stores in the Western Cape (including Kloof Street, Newlands, Constantia, Tygervalley, Stellenbosch and the V&A Waterfront) they also recently opened store in Somerset Mall and their first Johannesburg store opens on November 14th. 

Monday 29 October 2012

winning


We recently won Gold at the South African Olive Awards where we were entered into the 'Medium' category.

feeling festive

You can now buy our oils and olives at the Stellenberg Church's 'Feesmark' ('festival market' in Afrikaans).

The market runs daily (except Sundays) from 10am till 8pm and is on until 10 November.


Find them on Mountain View Drive, Eversdal. 

www.stellenberg.co.za


 

Wednesday 17 October 2012

welcome!



A warm Karoo welcome to our brand new blog. 

On this blog we hope to share lots of interesting facts, news and recipes. We want to share life on the farm, in Prince Albert and the greater Karoo area with you. 

To start, about Prince Albert Olives:

Fred Badenhorst and his son Hein continue the tradition of a long line of farmers in a family who have lived off the soil and its bounty for generations. They saw the unique micro climate of the Prince Albert district producing beautiful figs, grapes, pomegranates and citrus – and realised that olives would be a natural fit.



Apart from Prince Albert Olives, Fred and Hein farm free range sheep, cattle and game in the Prince Albert district and near the Boschberg Mountains in the Eastern Cape. Hein and cousin Adi Badenhorst produce wine under the AA Badenhorst Family Wines and Secateurs labels in the Swartland appellation.

We hope this blog will become a place of inspiration and constant news and helpful hints.