• 5 things you didn’t know about Tonka beans: 1. Hailing from South America, tonka beans are the seeds of the large, tropical tonka tree. 2. Black and wrinkled in appearance, they have a fragrance similar to sweet vanilla, cinnamon and cloves. 3. Tonka beans are used to impart a vanilla flavour to foods, tobacco and perfumes, and are used in potpourri to lift one’s mood, which is where they got their nickname, “love beans”. 4. The beans are thought by South American locals to bring good luck and are often carried around in their pockets or wallets. 5. Despite being…

    When in comes to Chardonnay in South Africa there is such a selection of bottled finesse to choose from that we need to be grateful to our winemakers who just seem to be getting it right, time and time again. So this is what to look for in a good wooded South African chardonnay: Delicate management of the wood. It shouldn’t feel as if you are licking an oak tree. The woodiness should embrace all elements of the wine and give you a fuller mouth-feel. While the real hallmark of a fine chardonnay is the foundation of lime citrus, which…

    This delicious homemade ricotta cheese will have you wondering why you’ve never attempted to make your own cheese before. It’s light, creamy and suitable for both savoury and…