Rietfontein, Darling. November.
Where the hive has the final say.
We’re a family farming on the outskirts of Darling. We keep bees, jar raw fynbos honey, and make gin and honey liqueurs. This notebook is where we keep track of it all: the hives, the still, each batch and the next market.
On the shelf
Gin
Original, Spiced and Cape Dry Gin
from R180
Liqueurs
Honey, Spice, Coffee and Fig
from R150
Honey
Raw fynbos honey and beeswax
from R50
The Ratel: barely any honey in the dry one. hard pass.
That’s the Ratel. Please ignore him.
This month on the farm
The taaibos next to RooiDak, our house, has started to flower. There’s a hive close by, so now we wait. Here’s hoping it turns into honey. If it does, we’ll be watching the smell. The taaibos is one of our…
The Ratel: taaibos. rooidak. noted.
Christmas
Pick a gift, add a card at checkout, and we’ll write your message by hand. We can send it straight to them too.
Order by Thursday 10 December for Christmas. The last parcels leave on Tuesday 15 December.
The Ratel: santa left the sleigh unlocked.
From the notebook
The sun decides
The still runs off the grid, on 20kW of solar panels and lithium batteries. In June and July there isn’t enough sun, so we stop and wait.
Die Ratel
the honey badger
- Fill a glass with ice
- Add 50ml Coffee Liqueur
- Top with 100ml ginger beer, or more if you like it lighter
- Finish with orange zest
The Ratel: named after me. you’re welcome.
Where to find us
Old Biscuit Mill
Saturdays 9–3 and Sundays 10–3. The whole range is here.
The Trading Hive
Shop 11, Salt Circle Arcade, 374 Albert Road. Monday to Saturday 10–3. Honey and beeswax, but no spirits.
Next markets
- 14 November to 27 December
- Table Bay Mall Christmas Market, Sunningdale
- 27 November to 20 December
- Skeppend Kersmark, Simonsvlei Wine Estate
The Ratel: i’ll be there. you won’t see me.
