Christmas Essentials

Whether it is purely to spread on soft bread, or to savour in baking, or to use in your favourite savoury recipe, you know that this is the one you want.  The most versatile and delicious jam made to a unique recipe.

Fruit from the Marula tree, also known as the “elephant tree” and the “fertility tree”  is said to have aphrodisiac properties, and is a favourite among the gentlest giant of the African big five, as elephants have a special weakness for the ripe fruit.  Harvest can be challenging, as fruit is only harvested after it has fallen from the trees to the ground, and the elephants and other local wild life have eaten their share.   To taste the marula fruit it is hard to imagine the end result of Amarula Cream is silky vanilla, berry and spice flavors, as the marula fruit in its pure form is quite tart.  With an acidity level 4-6 times that of an orange the ripe marula aroma is almost like ripe pears and passion fruit, with flavors that are quite similar and very tangy.  Unlike most wines and spirits, Amarula is created in two distinctly different places.  Harvest and processing occurs in Limpopo where the fruit is gathered, washed then pressed and processed removing the inner stone of seeds and leaving the pulp, which is then transported to Stellenbosch where the fermentation and distillation occurs.  Once processing starts the fruit is on a time crunch, as no stabilisers are used on the fruit; it is transported in this pure fruit pulp form which has been cooled and sent in temperature controlled trucks going back and forth from Limpopo to Stellenbosch, about a days drive away.   The end result creates balanced, sweet and silky flavours which are best tasted straight up or with a bit of ice, filled with chocolate, nuts and spice flavours.  Unlike many cream liqueurs this starts with a wine base, making the overall flavour and finish subtle and elegant without a whisky bite on the end.  Add in an amazing story of the fruit and the tie with the land, and it is the perfect pre or post-dinner spirit.

There are many manufacturers of Ginger Nuts. But there is one Ginger Nut in particular, that crisp, crunchy, spicy, yummy ginger biscuit we all love, that has a little extra something. Could that be magic, perhaps?

Variety is the spice of life, and with your ever-changing tastes you need something that can keep up. This makes Bakers Salticrax® your perfect party guest – the versatile salty snack that’s baked not fried. Delicious with toppings, or without!

Beacon Allsorts Tutti Frutti Flavoured Liquorice - something new for all liquorice fans out there.  The only food you are allowed to play with.

Beacon Allsorts Liquorice is known as the “original play-food” and makes a delicious and fun snack. Beacon started all the way back in 1931, when Mr Zulman bought the Durban Confectionery and Spice Works for only £500. Being a Lithuanian immigrant who’d been living and working in South African for eight years, he had learnt English.  Because Mr Zulman had experience in tea rooms and confectionery, he dedicated himself to his own company. Through hard work and great service, he managed to grow his business. After many years of partnerships, dedication and creativity, Beacon is the leading confectionery brand in South Africa with an impressive range, including Beacon Allsorts Liquorice.

For over 100 years, Bisto gravy and cook-in sauces provides the deliciousness and comfort of a home-cooked meal in a convenient product.

By purchasing this product, you declare that you over the age of 18. The brandy its self is as good as one would expect from a 3 year.  Neat, it has a good caramel lead and a strong, crisp bite in the follow through.  The alcohol content of 43% by volume is normal and it comes in the usual 750ml bottle or a 250ml nippie.  All very normal. But let’s be honest when you mix your brandy with coke and it’s a long night next to a bright fire most brandies taste the same after the first double or triple mix. However, make no mistake, this is a very special brandy because it is drunk by very special people.  People who want to be known as a ‘rowwe bliksem’, people who stamp their bottle caps flat once it has been unscrewed and people who love the sound of rain on an old corrugated iron roof. These are my kind of people, these are South Africans who skrik for niks and who would rather rest deep in thought staring into a fire than watch tiktok. I took a bottle Buffelsfontein Bradewyn to a braai recently. The ladies were making the salad and men the fire but they all came together to sample my inspiringly named brandy. Bederf jouself, jou rowwe bliksem and order now!

A chunky, gold bar of delicious honeycomb, smothered in thick Cadbury milk chocolate that shatters into mouth-watering crunchy pieces.

One bite into this delicious sweet and your tongue would have tasted heaven. The old-time classic éclair sweet that is covered in toffee with a chocolate centre, is sure to put a smile on your face.

Farm fresh herbs and lemon zest mixed into natural salt is the foundation of Funky Ouma flavours – no junk, just pure natural ingredients. BBQ/Braai and cooking salt. Before, during and after. The perfect South African Braai salt and spice mix to give that typical flavourful braai taste.