At Darling Sweet, our slogan – “Take Your Time” or “Vat Jou Tyd” or “Thatha ixesha lakho” – is the philosophy that guides us. Crafting our handcrafted treats requires time, care, and meticulous attention to detail.
Our Story
Darling Sweet’s story began with a dream shared by two creatively minded young men, Hentie van der Merwe and Frits van Ryneveld, who were inspired by the charm of their hometown, Darling. Frits, wanting to create a special treat for visitors to take home, teamed up with Hentie, who had a passion for traditional sweets. In 2013, Hentie started experimenting with old-fashioned toffee recipes, and the result was a game changer – rich, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth toffees that would become the foundation of Darling Sweet.
A year later, in July 2014, Frits and Hentie turned their vision into reality, establishing Darling Sweet, a toffee factory dedicated to crafting authentic, preservative-free treats. Their first product, Tannie Evita’s Classic Toffee, was an instant hit, and the range quickly grew to include ten irresistible flavours, blending classic favourites with innovative twists. They also created soft caramels in eight delectable flavours and toffee spreads in two.
Fast forward to today, and Darling Sweet has added another crowd pleaser to their range – their Proudly South African Fudge range. From the humble beginnings of perfecting toffees to becoming a beloved brand, Darling Sweet’s commitment to quality and tradition has remained unwavering.
New fudge range:
Traditional Fudge: Experience the rich, creamy delight of our traditional fudge, handcrafted with top-quality ingredients including real butter and condensed milk. Our time-honoured recipe, inspired by Ouma’s methods, ensures a velvety texture that melts in your mouth with every bite. This delicious fudge is a true taste of home-made goodness.
Moerkoffie Fudge: A nostalgic reminder of Ouma’s freshly brewed moerkoffie on the Dover stove, combined with the creamy delight of our traditional fudge, handcrafted with top-quality ingredients.
Melktert Fudge: An ode to melktert, as South African as proteas, the Springbucks, and the Swartland. The flavours of this traditional favourite are combined with ingredients of Ouma’s tried and tested fudge recipe.
Dolce Evita Fudge: Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout (referred to by her husband, Oom Hasie, as “Sweet Evita”) – doyenne of South African cooking, re-visited her friend and alter ego of many years, Mrs Petersen from the Bo-Kaap, to develop the best Cape Malay flavours and combine these with our traditional creamy fudge.
Strawberries & Cream Fudge: Immerse yourself in the flavours of fresh summer strawberries, whipped cream and our traditional fudge. What more could you want?
Rooibos Fudge: The combination of two South African favourites, the indigenous herbal infusion of rooibos, enjoyed by South Africans for many centuries, and our creamy melt-in-your-mouth fudge.
Salted Caramel Fudge: The crunch of West Coast fleur de sel combined with smooth, melt-in-your-mouth caramel fudge.
You can experience the magic of Darling Sweet for yourself at their Tasting Room, located at 8 Arcadia St, Darling, 7345 Western Cape, South Africa. They’re open Monday to Sunday, 10 am – 4 pm, so pop in and indulge in some sweet treats!
Their product range includes:
- Toffee (10 flavours)
- Soft Caramels (8 flavours)
- Toffee Spreads (2 flavours)
- Proudly South African Fudge range (7 flavours)
Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Darling Sweet is a must-visit destination for anyone with a sweet tooth. Come and taste the difference for yourself!
Follow Darling Sweet for more
On their website: https://bit.ly/4s6xtJR
Via Instagram: _darling_sweet_
Via Facebook: DarlingSweetOriginal
