Food Cape Town

- May 24, 2011 -

My tip for you

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.. have the pea and ham soup with chili oil for R35 at Lolas on Long Street! Superyummy.

Lola’s
228 Long Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 423 0885

pic by lescarnetsdemissclara

- Food Cape Town -

- May 21, 2011 -

Restaurant hopping in Cape Town

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Cape Town has the right food place for everyone

You can be a health freak, a broke student or a rich business woman that only dines fine. You can be someone that is looking for the special atmosphere or the sea view. Cape Town got it all. A breakfast, lunch and dinner suggestion for all the different peeps out there. And now, eat!

by Antonia Heil

written for capetownmagazine.com, found the pic here

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town -

- May 19, 2011 -

Cape Town’s tea spots – afternoon tea, high tea, tea cafés, tea shops

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Coffee? Tea? Tea!

“If you are cold, tea will warm you. If you are heated, it will cool you. If you are depressed, it will cheer you. If you are excited, it will calm you.” William Gladstone got it right just like the Chinese: “Rather three days without food than a day without tea.” Surprise, surprise, there is a tea culture in Cape Town. From High and Afternoon Teas to a tea caravan – Cape Town has the right tea spot for you.

High Tea/Afternoon Tea

The Mount Nelson Hotel - daily Morning Tea from 9.30am – 12.30pm as well as Afternoon Tea from 2:30pm – 5.30pm with live music
• Drinks: A varied array of leaf and flowering teas from Nigiro Tea Merchants including the signature Mount Nelson Tea, a blend from six teas with rose petals out of the Mount Nelson’s very own garden.
• Snacks: Delicate finger sandwiches filled with rare roast beef and rocket, smoked salmon, egg mayonnaise or cucumber, delectable dark chocolate cake, heavenly lemon meringue, freshly baked scones served with clotted cream and preserves, typical South African milk tart.
• Price: Morning Tea: R105 per person, R60 per child under 12; Afternoon Tea: R165 per person, R85 per child under 12
76 Orange Street | Gardens | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 483 1948

Table Bay Hotel V&A – daily Mad Hatters high tea from 2.30pm to 5.30pm
• Drinks: A selection of fresh house teas, specialised coffees and homemade ice tea.
• Snacks: Blueberry muffins, raisin scones, homemade jams, lemon curd and Chantilly clotted cream, chocolate-peanut butter cake, red velvet cup cakes etc. Plus, something a little spicy: roasted parsnip, mushroom and cheese quiche or smoked salmon and asparagus quiche.
• Price: R160 per person
Quay 6 | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 406 5918

One&Only - high tea daily from 2.30pm – 5.30pm
• Drinks: Selection of 35 teas, representing eight different tea families: Oolong, green, black, white, infused and fruit teas.
• Snacks: A three tier-stand with chocolate delice, baked vanilla bean cheesecake, caramel and gold leaf éclairs, tea loaf, macaroons, tea sandwiches and fine buttermilk scones.
• Price: R145 per stand weekdays excluding tea/coffee, R145 per person on weekends, inclusive of tea/coffee
V&A Waterfront | Dock Road | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 431 5800

Grande Provence - high tea on Saturdays and Sundays from 3pm – 5pm
• Drinks: A selection of the Revolution tea range: Earl Grey lavender, tropical green, golden chamomile herbal, English breakfast, southern mint herbal, white pear, sweet ginger peach, Bombay Chai, dragon eye Oolong.
• Snacks: Freshly baked scones served with homemade plum preserve and whipped cream, chocolate mousse cake, carrot muffins, smoked salmon sandwiches.
• Price: High tea platter R95 for 2 people
Main Road | Franschhoek | +27 (0)21 876 8600

Le Franschhoek Hotel & Spa – daily traditional high tea from 10am – 5pm
• Drinks: Dilmah teas with a variety of flavours to choose from, including vanilla, almond, Moroccan mint and others including all the standards teas; Cap Classique.
• Snacks: Scones with cream and preserve, cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, sweet pastries, baked cheesecake with berry compote and carrot cake with cream cheese and roasted hazelnut topping.
• Price: R95.00 – R195.00
Minor Road 16 | Franschhoek | +27 (0)21 876 8900

Grande Roche Hotel – daily high tea from 3pm – 5 pm
• Drinks: 21 different teas sourced from various suppliers and filter coffee.
• Snacks: Sweet and savoury stands including chocolate dipped fruit, home made mini scones, chocolate brownie, apple crumble, fruit tartlets, profiteroles, cucumber sandwiches, ham & cheese sandwiches, Parma ham, olives, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
• Price: R95 per person
Plantation Street | Paarl | +27 (0)21 863 5100

Taj – daily high tea from 3pm – 6pm
• Drinks: A selection of 20 different loose leaf teas (including Rooibos loose leaf tea) from Nigiro Tea Merchants, hot beverages such as chili-hot chocolate.
• Snacks: Chocolate eclairs, choc-chip scones, chocolate cake and other delectable chocolate delights.
• Price: R120 per person
Wale Street | City Centre | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 819 2000

Vineyard Hotel – daily high tea from 12pm -3pm
• Drinks: A wide variety of Twinings and Dilmah teas: Ceylon, pure Rooibos, Earl Grey, Green Tea, Natural, Jasmine, Lemon, Oolong, pure chamomile flowers, pure Peppermint, English breakfast, organic tea, Lady Grey, Ginger spice, Blackcurrant, Peach, Lemon, Vanilla, Raspberry, Four red fruits etc..
• Snacks: A tray with a selection of finger sandwiches, vegetarian quiche, mini chocolate tart, lemon cupcake, mini fruit tartlet, poppy seed cake, coconut ice, Turkish delight, baked passion fruit cheesecake, scone with homemade strawberry jam, cream and cheese.
• Price: R95 per person
54 Colinton Road | Newlands | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 657 4500

12 Apostles Hotel – traditional high tea and Chocolate Tea by the Sea daily from 2pm – 6pm
• Drinks: Dilmah Tea: Earl Grey, Rooibos, English Breakfast, Ceylon tea, strawberry, peppermint and caramel flavoured tea, coffees, rich hot chocolate.
• Snacks: Scones, clotted cream, lemon meringue tartlets, cupcakes, mini koeksisters, finger sandwiches, Almond strawberry cupcakes, selection of biscuits, chocolate brownie, cream scones with strawberry jam, éclairs, glazed fruit tartlets, macaroons, chocolate extravaganza.
• Price: Traditional high tea R165 per stand for two, Chocolate Tea by the Sea R185 per stand for two
Victoria Road | Camps Bay | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 437 4015

The Cape Grace – daily high tea from 11am – 6pm
• Drinks: Different teas sourced from various suppliers, different coffees and Graham Beck sparkling rosé.
• Snacks: Finger sandwiches, sugar buffet and hot Malay savouries (spring rolls, beef stays, etc.).
• Price: Traditional: R75 per person; Sugar buffet: R12/item; Sugar and bubbles: R110 per person; Sugar and spice: R110 per person
West Quay Road | V&A Waterfront | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 410 7100

NH The Lord Charles Hotel – daily afternoon tea from 2pm – 5pm
• Drinks: 10 different Dilmah Teas and filter coffee.
• Snacks: Daily changing mini buffet offering savoury and sweet options such as finger sandwiches, scones and different types of cakes.
• Price: R65 per person
Corner Main Road (M9) & Broadway Boulevard (R44) |  Somerset West | +27 (0)21 855 1040

MannaBay – high tea daily from 4pm – 5pm
• Drinks: Twinings tea: Earl Grey, Ceylon, Rooibos, Peppermint, Camomile, Four fruits.
• Snacks: Freshly baked savouries, chocolate and carrot cakes and cup cakes.
• Price: Only for in-house guests
1 Denholm Road | Oranjezicht | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 461 1094

Tea cafes

Nigiro Tea Merchants - ‘Anytime is Tea Time’ at Origin Coffee Roasting & Nigiro Tea from Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 2pm
• Drinks: 180+ teas sourced from various parts of the world: China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Egypt, Turkey, Czech Republic and Greece. Green, White, Show Tea, Oolong, Black, Red, Fruit Infusion, Herbal Infusion and Rooibos.
• Snacks: Dim Sum, a vegetables and soya mince filled and wholesome bun; Zong zi – two bamboo leaves filled with sticky rice, shiitake mushrooms, peanuts and soya mince. Alternatively there are breakfast and lunch options.
• Price: The loose teas can range from R49 (per 100g) to the most delicate green tea which costs about R305.
28 Hudson Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 421 1000

Lady Bonin – travels to different markets (e.g. youmeandeveryoneweknow market, Boulders Market), festivals and events
• Drinks: Loose-leaf teas as take-away hot teas or ice-teas, fresh daily blends; 23 different loose-leaf teas: blended black, Black, Green, White, Oolong, Flavoured Black Teas, Fruit Infusions, Herbal in glass jars sourced from their countries of origin and locally: China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, South America, Russia, UK, South Africa; blends to requests on site.
• Snacks: Cupcakes, delicacies and other savories treats that compliment each tea.
• Price: R15 for all teas and blends as a drinking capacity, Snow Lotus R40 drinking capacity. The jar prices vary between R35 and R85.
Observatory | Cape Town | +27 (0)83 628 2504

Oways – the tea cafe is open from Monday to Friday 7.30am – 5pm, Saturdays from 9am – 2pm
• Drinks: Over 66 teas from Nigiro Tea Merchants (engage with the tea maker on the tea counter).
• Snacks: Cold and warm kitchen, tea and coffee inspired foods from East and West for food pairing with tea and coffee.
• Price: Average food (single serving of breakfast, lunch and dessert courses) is about R35, a medium sized pot of tea is R25 with teapot warmer, hourglass and correct temperatured water.
Shop 2 | Heritage House | 20 Dreyer Street | Claremont | +27 (0)21 671 2850

Rhodes Memorial Restaurant and tea garden - open seven days a week from 9am – 5pm, high teas on request
• Drinks: Black tea, Earl Grey, Herbal, organic Rooibos, light Buchu tea and Lavazza coffee. • Snacks: Cakes (they have had the same baker for 25 years using tried and tested recipes): apple crumble, milk tart, brandy pudding, scones, muffins and lemon meringue.
• Price: R25 and up
Rhodes Memorial Restaurant | Table Mountain Nature Reserve | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 689 9151

Tibetan Tea House (Sophea Gallery) – open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am – 5pm
• Drinks: The two most popular teas are the home made spiced Chai and Tibetan salty butter tea. They serve these in traditional Tibetan wooden teacups as Tibetan folklore states that “drinking tea from a wooden cup makes you handsome, popular and wise!” Also on offer: an excellent range of imported organic black, white and green teas, fruit infusions and flavoured rooibos teas that are sourced from a supplier who has made sure that organic is truly organic and that fair-trade principles are applied. Fresh herb teas and infusions from herbs such as rose geranium, lemon geranium and lemon grass organically grow in their own garden.
• Snacks: The emphasis is on ‘kind food’ and offers delicious vegan and vegetarian food based on Tibetan recipes. Despite the fact that Tibetans don’t really eat cakes the sweet toothed among us are well catered for with all vegan egg-free sweets menu. Scones, chocolate cake, apple crumble with vegan cream or ice-cream, lemon cupcakes which include a gluten free, egg free, wheat free version.
• Price: Meal prices vary from R35 – R58, teas from R12-R17 and cakes from R15-R23
2 Harrington Road | Seaforth | Simon’s Town | +27 (0)21 786 1544

Kirstenbosch Tea Room – daily afternoon tea from 8.30am – 5pm
• Drinks: Dilmah teas with a variety of flavours to choose from, including Ceylon, Earl Grey, peppermint, camomile, Green tea, ginger etc.
• Snacks: Cucumber and cream cheese or egg sandwiches on either white or wholewheat bread, mini spinach-and-feta quiches, home-made scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream and one cake.
• Price: R140 for two
Gate 2 | Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens | Rhodes Drive | Newlands | +27 (0)21 797 4883

Another beautiful tea-spot on sunny days is Tea under trees in Paarl. It’s a beautiful garden, almost park that offers several teas and a dreamy vintage environment. Contact Debbie Redelinghuys (+27 (0)82 825 5666) for more information.

by Antonia Heil

Rather want coffee? Here you find Cape Town’s coffee roasters and cool Cape Town coffee shops.

written for capetownmagazine.com

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town -

- May 18, 2011 -

Cheese board tip – South Africa ♥ cheese platters

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Ideas for a cheesy meal

If you’re a cheese-lover living in Cape Town, you must know of The Real Cheese shop in Observatory that sells South Africa’s best artisan cheeses. We went to taste a few of their 150 cheeses.

Owner Valerie Elder and assistant Claudette have great knowledge of the cheeses and can create everything from a wedding-cheese-cake to a yummy fondue or a cheese board to impress your friends.

Today, let’s talk cheese board:
“It’s nice to have a selection of at least six cheeses” says Valerie. Her platter-tip:

Cheeseboard
• Dalewood Fromage (a traditional Camembert)
• Swisslands Drakenberg (goats cheese)
• Pepper Kimilili (a farm Pecorino-style cheese)
• Cremalat Gorgonzola
• Green Sage (country cheese from Natal)
• Moxham Cheddar

“Eat cheese first for flavour, then play.” says Valerie with a smile and lists what else is nice to add to a cheese board: nuts, cured meats, olives, biscuits and of course sweetness: fresh fruit, dried fruit and preserved fruit like figs, aubergines, watermelon, quince, Maketaan and Suurtjies.

And, why not, pair your cheeses with some wine you got fresh from the Winelands?

by Antonia Heil

written for capetownmagazine.com

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town -

- May 9, 2011 -

The Real Cheese, Observatory, Cape Town

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Taste and buy South Africa’s best artisanal cheeses in Observatory

If you are interested in what you eat and the story behind your bites, let me tell you: you will fall in love with The Real Cheese Shop in Observatory. What you get: a choice of 150 cheeses and the stories of who’s behind them. This is not only a chef‘s hot spot, but for every food lover.

British-born, Valerie Elder (she‘s lived in South Africa nearly 40 years and calls it home) had the idea for her shop by following her food passion. A radio documentary made her park on the side of the road where she listened to a lady that was so passionate about cheese. After phoning SABC, she found the women and said “I want to sell your cheese in Cape Town”. This was her first partner, and they still work together. After many years of working in hotel management, Valerie had enough of making food. “I wanted to turn it around, now I wanted to supply the food industry.”

This was 16-years ago. Valerie started by selling cheese out of her flat in Hout Bay, but “My flat wasn’t big enough, so I bought a house in Observatory and an even bigger fridge.. my house ended up being a fridge.” After many years of selling cheese from home and premises in Mowbray, The Real Cheese Shop ended up in Observatory with a team of nine and three walk-in cold rooms, enough to offer you lots of cheesy stuff.

“Our success is all word of mouth,” says Valerie, who has strict criteria on who she works with. All cheeses at The Real Cheese are free of preservatives, colourants, chemicals and all cheeses are made on organic principals. The 40 farms Valerie works with have their own herds and everything is under thier own management. “Our cheese makers are creative, passionate and committed. Making cheese is hard work.”

South Africa can make good quality cheeses – a changing cheese-perception

Most of the 150 different cheeses (the range is constantly changing) you can buy are sourced from cheeseries all over the country, predominantly from the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. “And we’re not talking rubber-yellow cheeses,” as Valerie likes to say. “We want to promote and support South African good quality artisan cheeses to show we can do it.”

“In the late 90s, people started to ask ‘What is in this product? Where does it come from? How do I know it doesn’t harm me?’”. “Our products are safe and of top quality” assures Valerie.

When someone asks Valerie what cheeses she offers, she replies “What do you want?”. The main categories of cheese on offer are blue and bloomy rind, white moulded, mozzarellas and semi-hard, Cheddars, Parmesans, Pecorinos, goat and sheep cheeses as well as fresh cheeses. Imagine the choice of 40 different goat cheeses, 6 different Parmesans… are you ready for a trip to Obs?

A must-try and the closest to a truly South African cheese is the Huguenot. A cross between Emmental, Gruyère, Pecorino and Parmesan, it’s sweet and nutty and was developed in the Cape.

“People like that they can taste before they buy and only buy as much as they need for reasonable prices.” says Valerie. The perception of cheese is changing since it is not part of the African heritage; Cape Town is miles ahead of anywhere else in the country.

I’m so lucky to testify as a happy customer. While Valerie and I put together a cheese platter, a man approaches us, shaking Valerie’s hand saying “I am a big fan of your business, so nice to meet you.”

Valerie grew up in a town in the UK where there were four shops like The Real Cheese. “I grew up with great exposure to European cheeses. That goes into you, becomes part of you.”

by Antonia Heil

The Real Cheese (Get Stuffed Enterprises)
Bishop Corner 217 | Lower Main Road | Observatory | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 448 8041

Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm, Saturday 9am to 12pm

PS: The Real Cheese also offers cured meats from Cremalat, a renowned Italian outlet and cheese accompaniments as Suurtjies, Maketaan, Aubergine, olives, biscuits, biscotti and more.

Cape Town has lot’s of food stories to tell. Do you know the Pesto Princess or have you tasted De Villiers chocolate?

I wrote this piece for www.capetownmagazine.com and my personal favourite for a great pasta is Grana.

- food, Food Cape Town -

- May 8, 2011 -

Red Espresso – Cape Town

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… talking about the essence of rooibos tea and a Capetonian success story

I’m sure you’ve heard about red espresso– but have you ever tried it? It took me one and a half years to try it and to actually ask: what is this red stuff? Well, it’s easy. South Africa is the home of rooibos tea, and this is it, just a bit better.

Red espresso is pure rooibos tea – it’s high quality tea ground to the perfect grind so that you can use it as you would an espresso in your coffee maker and make yourself a red espresso. And: it’s even healthier for you with 10 times more antioxidants than in normal rooibos tea. Health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and cancer are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants may also enhance immune defence and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.

All right, this naturally caffeine-free stuff is only good for you. I make it in my mocca pot at least twice a day. It is really that good. But I go for the red cappuccino, where I cover the red espresso with frothed milk, a bit of honey and cinnamon. If you have a pure red espresso, you will be surprised, that it has cream due to natural oils in the tea.

Red espresso advertises with slogans like ‘A tea that plays by coffee’s rules’ to show the versatility of the product and the idea of having it as an alternative for espresso.

A normal cup of tea was not exciting enough

Let me quickly tell you the story behind red espresso. Foodie and entrepreneur, Carl Pretorius drank too much espresso. Being a health-conscious guy, he started to feel the espresso-intake. One day on his way to the kitchen to make yet another espresso, he saw the espresso machine and rooibos tea not too far from it and had the thought ‘this could be something’. Being known for experimenting with different ways of doing things, he got it right. Carl, the owner of the olive farm Belvedere and Just Trees in Paarl talked to his horticulturist Bruce who knew the place where one could get the best rooibos tea: at Biedouw Valley, a family run farm in the Cederberg.

2005 was the beginning of red espresso. Carl Pretorius didn’t want decaf and didn’t want tea, but something with the health benefits of tea.

Carl’s family tasted it as well as a friend in Paarl who owned coffee shop Kikka on Main Street – all loved it and quickly after this it said ‘rooibos cappuccino R10′ on his coffee shop-blackboard.

Giovanni’s Deli was his first customer in Cape Town next to 600 stores countrywide. Woolworth cafés became a customer in 2006, a big credibility builder as well as @Home. In 2011 red espresso is about to reach export-country number 20 with Canada being the biggest due to existing rooibos-consciousness in the country. Portugal is another big market, where capsules with red espresso (like nespresso) are sold, the first tea capsule worldwide.

Recognised for taking tea into the café space, red espresso has won five awards in five years: three for innovation – including making history as the first tea (and first South African company) to earn coffee’s highest honour at The Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) by winning the Best New Product – Speciality Beverage Award 2008/9. In the same year, on the other side of the beverage spectrum, red espresso was voted a Top Ten Best New Product at the World Tea Expo 2009 for essentially taking tea out the bag and into a place no-one thought it would go: the espresso machine and, with it, coveted café culture.

Rooibos tea is sexy – My home is my castle

The team behind red espresso made the old-fashioned rooibos tea new and sexy. Rooibos ground to an espresso grind – and brought something really healthy to the coffee market.

South Africa though is the home of rooibos and red espresso’s most important market (the product is proudly Capetonian). In 2010, the local market grew by 20%. “We’re proud that we innovated on home soil.” says brand manager Natasha Larché.

Red espresso is smart; it is an endorsement both for the coffee and tea world. It is not coffee, it is not tea, this is a new category.

by Antonia Heil

99 Hope Street | Gardens | Cape Town | +27 (0) 21 461 6965

PS: 250g of the magic red stuff cost you something from R45 to R48

So lucky to do this story for capetownmagazine.com

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town -

- May 3, 2011 -

Tea, please! – Nigiro Tea merchants Cape Town

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Nigiro Tea Merchants bring tea culture to Cape Town

… a story I wrote for www.capetownmagazine.com

That Cape Town is a coffee town, that we know. But where the heck is the tea-culture? Only at the Mount Nelson Hotel’s afternoon tea? This is how I got to know Nigiro Tea Merchants –located at the back of coffee roasters and coffee shop Origin. (Nigiro is Origin spelled backwards.) Owner Joel Singer met tea master, Mingwei Tsai in 2009 and both quickly decided it was time to bring tea to Cape Town, since “Coffee and tea complement each other”.

“Coffee and tea are opposite to each other at times. Where coffee is an energetic, loud and extroverted drink, tea is more of an introvert with its beautiful curves and colours.” tells me Mingwei Tsai, who is full of tea-passion. “Tea people are soft people and generally have tea-friends. And tea-friends are friends for life.” As nothing seems unusual anymore, people want to know the story, the origin and benefit of things, Nigiro is a good spot to dig a bit deeper into the tea-scene.

Cape Town, it’s tea time

Spending some time at Nigiro with tea merchant Nehemia Simons and owner Mingwei Tsai I find out that Nigiro opened in March 2009 and has brought real loose tea to South Africa. They started off with 120 different teas, and today they offer around 200 teas, and there’s still more to come.

Nehemia and I start off with the traditional Chinese way of drinking tea, just like the old folks did, the High Mountain Tea Ceremony on a specially sculptured stone table. The idea: slowing down while forgetting about the outside life and simply enjoying the art of tea. Nigiro is the perfect space for forgetting the outside: there are no windows, Nigiro is a glass box at the back of Origin with calming music, aromas and a soft water feature.

The High Mountain Tea ceremony is definitely an interesting experience for tea-lovers that are interested on how things were done ‘back then’. “We have adopted the true art of drinking tea according to traditional Chinese and Taiwanese methods, creating a mystical way of preparing tea with the usage of special tea equipment such as the terracotta clay pot, ‘aroma’ cup and ‘drinking’ cup. The aim of the ceremony is focused on the senses coupled with calming down from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and allowing the tea to do the talking.” says tea merchant Nehemia who has lot’s of tea stories to tell. We have several infusions of the High Mountain Tea and concentrate on the flavour and the fragrance, while exchanging our thoughts.

It is an relaxing process, that’s for sure. The High Mountain Tea we are drinking is a Taiwanese Oolong tea that is grown 2000 feet above sea level (100g of High Mountain Tea cost you R165). Surely, the tea ceremony is also a good way to get your tea lesson. Did you know that Oolong teas are a world of green and black teas wrapped in one?

Water plays a big role at the ceremony, “Water is tranquilising” says Nehemia. Water is used, to warm up the cups, to seal the clay pot and of course, to make the tea. When you enter Nigiro, you step from the coffee world into the tea world via a water feature. “You basically wash your feet.” summarises Mingwei.

The quality of tea is in its making

‘How can I brew my tea right at home?’ is my question. First of all, buy quality tea, Nehemia says and then it’s all about the pot and the water. When the water boils in your kettle, it is round about 100° degrees hot. It depends on the tea, what the right temperature for infusion is, but it’s good to know with each 3-4 minutes, the water temperature drops up to 7° degrees. The clay pots are known as healthy pots for pure teas, and the all-rounder is the glass pot. The best water to use for tea-making is full-bodied spring water, but filtered water will do too.

An absolute ‘don’t’ for the Nigiro-tea-guys is adding milk and sugar to the tea. “Often it’s a habit. It’s like adding salt and pepper to a meal before even having tasted it.” says Mingwei and I decide to rethink my milk in my Earl Grey.

Over 200 teas to choose from

I also learn that there are only 50 acres of rooibos tea in South Africa. “It’s an unique product, not a commodity.” says Nehemia who’s mission is to tea-educate people. The top rooibos tea is exported overseas, but here you can try more than 10 different rooibos teas.

Besides the rooibos tea, the Nigiro teas are sourced from various parts of the world: China, Japan, Taiwan, India, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malawi, Egypt, Turkey, Czech Republic and Greece. Teas on offer are Green, White, Show Teas, Oolong, Black, Red, Fruit Infusion and Herbal Infusion. “And if we don’t have it, we can probably blend it.” assures Mingwei.

An outstanding and popular show tea is the Jasmin Dragon Phoenix Pearls, which is loved by women. The vanilla tea, rose tea as well as the earl grey with blue flowers are popular morning and breakfast black teas. ‘Source of happiness’, a tea with soft citrus flavours is a calming tea as well as the herbal sundown. If you’re looking for an uplifting tea, try the apple lapacho as well as the strawberry and vanilla rooibos tea. Health freaks, of course, go for the High Mountain Tea.

“Tea is like a museum”, says Mingwei. Indeed, there’s so much to see. Tea is a never-ending story.

by Antonia Heil

Nigiro Tea Merchants 28 Hudson Street | De Waterkant | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 421 1000

Opening hours: Monday – Friday 08:30am – 5pm; Saturday & Sunday 09:00am – 2pm

Prices: tea prices ranging from R25 – R305 per 100g; High Mountain Tea Ceremony from R75pp – R175pp with additional options; other tea tastings from R60 – R145

PS: You can experience Nigiro’s tea at the Mount Nelson Hotel, the One&Only, the Taj, at the wine estates Delaire, Tokara, Waterkloof and many other places.

More tea spots in Cape Town you find in my tea-spot overview (morning, afternoon and high teas in Cape Town and surrounds). Enjoy.

Hier gibt es meinen Artikel über das Teehaus Nigiro auf Deutsch.

- Cape Town, cool places to go, food, Food Cape Town -

- May 3, 2011 -

Cape Town … rocks

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Okay, I mentioned it before, but I truely love Café Ganesh in Observatory (Lower Main Road at Trill Road | Observatory | Cape Town)… I usually go for the tomato soup and pap&veg…

Just a quick update: the 12 Apostles restaurant Azure offers a dinner&movie special for R315 – really worth it having a little (huge :) indulgent foodie/movie night. More info here.

I just published another piece, written by Matt Allison on “How to throw an impressive dinner party“. Maybe the urban farmer can inspire you a little.

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town -

- Apr 30, 2011 -

The tea Lady Bonin – Lady Bonin’s tea parlour

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Another exciting and passionate story I wrote for capetownmagazine.com

Jessica Bonin was the first in Cape Town to offer take-away quality teas

Ever wondered who’s behind that bohemian tea caravan ‘Lady Bonin’s tea parlour’? Yes, it’s another tea story, but tea stories are healthy and good for you, so here we go… I met tea lady Jessica Bonin for the first time at the end of December 2010 at the ‘You and Me & Everyone We Know Market’ in front of the Labia theatre on Cape Town’s Orange Street. ‘Finally’ I thought, finally someone who’s bringing some tea culture to Cape Town (next to all the lekker coffee shops) – and then I had a good cup of ice tea on a hot summer‘s day.
Lady Bonin’s mission: to revolutionise and modernise the tea drinking culture while at the same time providing an alternative to take-away coffee. Selling her goods from a bohemian caravan, Jessica introduced a mobile tea room to Cape Town and travels from market to market, and from festival to party.

The tea lady, Jessica Bonin, is originally from Joburg, studied drama and theatre in Grahamstown and came to Cape Town to work in film production. “Irregular times, and working in summer to stay financially liquid during winter was killing my soul,” she says. So 1,5 years ago, Jessica re-looked her situation and went on a business course.

What’s missing in Cape Town?

That was the question she asked herself. Jessica wanted to open a tea-café, but then had to look at what she could really afford – a caravan. Things quickly came together: having the idea in June 2010, things started moving in July and the caravan was found in November 2010 in Johannesburg. The tea parlour slash caravan is well in shape, dating from 1975, it’s painted beautifully with wallpaper inside and an outside display – it’s eye-candy, that’s for sure – there’s an easy-going vibe about the little dude…

“The caravan is just like my home is: bohemian chic with Eastern influences without limiting it,” says Jessica. The colours, the décor, the plants, the carpet with cushions in front of the caravan.. it will surely teach you that tea is a relaxing pastime. Take time and enjoy your cup in the caravan with Lady Bonin or in front of the caravan on the cushions.

“Since tea is often looked at as an elitist thing, the caravan makes it accessible,” says happy caravan-owner Jessica. Even though you will find Lady Bonin’s tea at more and more health-conscious cafés and stores, you will also find her at many markets.

The focus: quickly brewed take-away high quality loose-leaf teas in biodegradable packaging

Tea has always been a big part of Jessica’s life; time to spread the word. Even though the aim is still to have a tea-café, the caravan is a good way to check out the market. Jessica serves freshly brewed tea at her Lady Bonin’s tea parlour as take-aways (in biodegradable cups) or sit-down. The beautiful cups sourced from Milnerton market give the whole experience a nostalgic feel, but tea is in. That vintage and cool go hand-in-hand, we know already. And the name? “I always loved my surname and we are the only Bonin’s in South Africa.”

Lady Bonin offers 23 unblended loose-leaf teas in 50g glass jars 50g (20 cups worth) but also custom blends. Where did she learn her trade? “I’m self-taught, tea is a feeling for me, you put your love in it just like you would with a good meal.” I wonder what I would call a ‘tea-barista’ and Jessica tells me that ‘tea-master’ would be the proper term. Jessica sources her teas and tea equipment from all over the world. Her favourite tea and a best-seller is the Formosa Oolong Blossom (nutty citrus-y, smooth like drinking silk) and the Earl Grey Blue Flowers also has a good number of followers.

Tea lady Jessica receives amazing feedback; family and friends believe in her and push her to the next level. “I enjoy being passionate about something. It’s like being responsible for a vegetable garden. I love the fact that I am everywhere, people are open. And it’s good to know that I am ahead of the market..!”

In future, Lady Bonin will also offer tea associated products such as, tea-flavoured cupcakes, tea-bath-sacks, tea-ice-cream… Check out the traveling tea-caravan. It’s like a fairytale, of passionate people, where everything is healthy and good!

by Antonia Heil

PS: Visit Lady Bonin at the Boulders Market, every last Friday of the month at the You and Me & Everyone We Know Market at the Labia theatre on Orange Street, plus, check at the Wellness Warehouse for Lady Bonin’s teas – find a list of all the other markets on Lady Bonin’s website.

pix by Padraic O’Meara

- Cape Town, food, Food Cape Town, people -

- Apr 15, 2011 -

Lola’s on Long Street in Cape Town is opening again

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Yeah! I missed this place. New owners, new menu, new vibe ;) It will open its doors tomorrow. More here.

- Cape Town, cool places to go, food, Food Cape Town -