5 Proudly S.A products taking on the world
Take a look at 5 Proudly S.A products taking on the world, one product at a time.
Pepperdew
A favourite on pizzas across the world, spicy-sweet pickled Pepperdews are a product of Limpopo. After being discovered and identified as a new fruit by founder Johan Steenkamp almost 25 years ago, the tasty Juanita pepper was first trademarked, pickled and bottled at a “modest farming facility” in the province. According to the brand’s website, “Pepperdew International” is still based in Limpopo, but the operation has grown substantially and is now exported to “some of the world’s largest retailers and food manufacturers, in over 25 countries around the world”. And no, the company doesn’t just stick to Pepperdews, but has expanded the range to other pickled peppers, atchar, table sauces and pasta sauces.
Ella Espresso Boost
You’ve never seen a coffee product like this. Sold in a unique prize-winning 100% recyclable packaging, Ella can be consumed as a cappuccino if you add hot water to the contents, but it’s more popularly used as an energy booster that you just shake up and enjoy straight up. Think of it as a shot … a delicious, creamy “shake it up” espresso boost with milk.
Produced at a factory in Paarl, and using milk from local cows, Ella comes in three flavours – original, vanilla and mocha. It also only uses natural ingredients, is low in sugar, and preservative free. And Middle East consumers are going to be getting a taste of this tasty local innovation, with the product soon to be stocked in supermarket aisles across the region.
Macadamia Nuts
Ok, macadamia nuts aren’t exactly a South African invention, but our local farmers are certainly making sure that we’re becoming known as a macadamia-producing hotspot – in fact the country knocked Australia off the top position as the biggest global exporter a few years ago. Macadamia trees need a hot, sub-tropical climate to thrive and Limpopo, Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal provide just that. And the nuts are fast becoming recognised for their health benefits – they contain large amounts of Vitamin A and iron, as well as zinc and calcium. Interestingly, while they are a good snack for humans, they are toxic to dogs. They’re also very expensive because the trees take from six to 12 years to start producing fruit, although once they get going they can produce fruit for up to 70 years.
Banhoek Chilli Oil
The Hellshoogte valley that runs between Stellenbosch and Franschhoek might be best known for some of the country’s most famous wine farms, but Banhoek Chilli oil has now been added to the list of top-quality bottled goods coming from the region. Ok, so you wont be drinking it by the glassful – rather sprinkle it over food – but this red-tinged, tongue-tingling chilli oil has grown rapidly in popularity over the last few years. Its main ingredient is canola oil from the Overberg region, which is infused with local Bird’s Eye Chillies. It was first produced in 2017, after the founders had tasted a ‘sauce piquante’ in Europe and were inspired to create their own version at home. Five short years later it is already being sold across Southern Africa, and in the UK and US.
Tinned chicken feet
You either love them or hate the thought of them, but it seems our neighbours have developed a liking for that good old South African classic – chicken feet. Earlier this year it was reported that Limpopo-based company Tin Stuf, had been approached to supply Shoprite locally with their 400g canned chicken feet and neck. It seems that this product has legs, according to Tin Stuf’s Eiren Drake, with demand coming from South Africa’s bordering countries and export possibilities from as far afield as Asia and South America.
