South Africa's reputation as a wine producer overshadows its presence in the olive oil industry, where Greece, Italy, and Spain reign supreme. Nevertheless, South African farmers remain undeterred, aiming to capture a share of the lucrative market for high-quality extra virgin oils.

 

At Tokara, a farm located near Cape Town, workers diligently harvest olives, causing the ripened fruits to fall from the branches. This picturesque wine region at the southern tip of Africa evokes the landscapes of Tuscany. Gert van Dyk, the farm's operations manager, proudly presents a glass of freshly-pressed extra virgin olive oil that recently won an award in the United States. He describes its taste, highlighting the pleasant bitterness, pepperiness, and subtle burning sensation at the back of the throat.

Tokara Estate, originally focused on winemaking, now showcases olive oil as one of its flagship products, even offering tastings to visitors. Local restaurateur Christophe Dehosse expresses his enthusiasm for South African olive oil, emphasizing its extraordinary quality and the growing trend of using it for bread dipping, which has become "very fashionable." He prefers locally-produced oil due to its authenticity and the assurance that it is 100 percent extra virgin olive oil.

 

The cultivation of olives in South Africa traces back to the early 20th century when Italian immigrant Fernando Costa began growing them. In 1998, Giulio Bertrand, a retired Italian residing in South Africa, imported 17 varieties of olive trees and planted them on his Stellenbosch farm. Today, the Morgenster farm spans 42 hectares and serves as the origin for millions of olive trees across the country. Bertrand's granddaughter, Vittoria Castagnetta, proudly acknowledges her grandfather's contribution to establishing South Africa's olive oil industry.

 

The Cape region's picturesque hills, Mediterranean climate, and rolling vineyards have gained recognition beyond the country's borders for producing high-quality olives. In May, a South African olive oil company won the prestigious "Absolute Best Olive Oil" title at the EVOOLEUM awards in Spain. While olive oil remains a luxury product for many South Africans, the growing demand for healthier diets has led to increased interest from the local market.

 

Although South Africa's annual olive oil production of up to two million liters pales in comparison to global output of over three million tons, it is slowly making its mark in the luxury oil industry. The country's potential for olive oil exports is bolstered by the challenges faced by traditional European producers due to droughts and recurrent heatwaves, leading to lower output and soaring global olive oil prices.

 

As climate disasters impact traditional olive oil regions, South Africa has an opportunity to position itself as a formidable player in the export market. Similarly to its renowned wine industry, South Africa's olive oil sector simply needs to be discovered and appreciated. The international market's growing demand and the country's unique offerings make it a point of pride for South Africa.