8 Best ways to savour the taste of summer with strawberries

Die Rooirok Farmstall in Cecilia Street, Southern Paarl (opposite Food Lover’s Market) is slightly off the beaten track but they have a firm following who come here to stock up on fresh strawberries (R95 for 1.25kg) and fresh strawberry syrup (R70), delicious on ice cream, cheesecake or to make smoothies and milkshakes.

They also sell homebaked rusks, preserved figs, sundried nectarines and pickled baby beets, ideal for summer salads.

Owner Deonette Bourbon-Leftley says they might be a small establishment but “it’s not about the size of your farm, rather about your love for the soil”. This year their strawberries ripened as early as the start of September. Every year they hold thumbs that their harvest will last until the day before Christmas; last year they ran out a week before. Apart from strawberries, they also sell grapes and plums in January and February.

Look out for the bright sign proclaiming It’s Strawberry Time Y’all and the life-sized patchwork pig that beckons you in and changes position every day, dangling from a tree branch, ensconced in a wheel barrow or hobnobbing with a handful of chickens. 

Take a drive out to Die Rooirok, they do not have a social media presence. 

Strawberry King at De Zoete Inval in Southern Paarl produces a wide variety of strawberries and sells to the public (R45 for 500g, R80 for 1kg and R150 for 2kg) from their bright red and white store just off the N1 beyond the Paarl off ramp.

They also stock fresh blueberries, frozen strawberries and homemade strawberry jam (R60) and strawberry syrup (R50). Here they are quick to debunk the myth I read online that the earlier the strawberry is picked in the season, the sweeter it tastes. The sweetness depends on the amount of sunlight hours the plant has had and has nothing to do with the time of the season, they tell me.

Once the strawberry season is over, around Christmas, Strawberry King sells various other fresh fruits depending on availability and season.

They also have a mobile farm stall on the Wemmershoek Road (R301), between Paarl and Franschhoek.

Mooiberge Farmstall on the R44 between Stellenbosch and Somerset West has been in business for decades. Their two greatest attractions are picking your own strawberries and marveling at the dozens of oversized and funky scarecrows. 

To pick your own strawberries opt for a medium (R70.00) or large punnet (R100) and head out to the strawberry fields. Except for toddlers, everyone in the field must have a punnet. 

The fun scarecrows include a kangaroo, springbuck, baby elephant, giraffe, a flying fish that could also be mistaken for a lopsided mermaid, a small plane suspended above the rows of strawberry plants and a zebra in a compromising position.

At The Thirsty Scarecrow, their onsite restaurant, you can settle for a Berry Best smoothie (strawberry, banana and peanut butter), strawberry milkshake, strawberries and ice cream or a strawberry daiquiri. 

At the Mooiberge Farmstall visitors stock up on fresh strawberries (R35 for 400g), strawberry dessert topping, strawberry jam and strawberry flavoured cream liqueur but also pickled gherkins and onions, preserved beetroot, honey, rooibos tea, Cape mebos, nuts and fresh vegetables. In the adjacent wine shop wines from various estates are sold at very affordable prices. 

Zetler Berries from Polkadraai Farm can be bought at the Zetlers Food & Wine Shop on the R310/Baden Powell Drive (close to Spier Wine Farm) in Lynedoch. You can’t miss the giant strawberry, bigger than many of the trucks that pull in at the petrol station that is also situated on the premises.

Next to the towering strawberry is a busty damsel with a forlorn expression on her face towering over the parking lot yet she brings happy news, holding a massive sign proclaiming Strawberries in season. At the shop there is lots more to be found apart from fresh strawberries (R99 for 1 kg). 

On the shelves there are enamel plates, beaded coasters, basketwork, Mandela-themed gifts, bath products, Namibian biltong and much more, the ideal place to look for a gift for just about anyone. Also a well-stocked craft beer fridge and well-priced wines from different estates.

If you’re in the mood for a berry great day, you don’t necessarily need to head out of Cape Town.

At Time Out Market at the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Nøsh Café has gooey pastries topped with glistening strawberries. 

Nøsh Café serves all-day breakfasts, delicious bagels and other light meals and fresh bakes; they are also known for their artisan roasters and unique coffee experience.

At the Unframed Ice Cream bar the strawberry and hibiscus sorbet is the one to pick on a summer day though you’ll be tempted by the other innovative flavour creations as well. Every flavour combination is dreamt up, made from scratch and uses whatever is fresh in the Cape at the time.

Ice cream brings happiness is what they believe.

The Time Out Market is open daily, from Sunday to Wednesday from 11:00 to 22:00, and on Thursday to Saturday from 11:00 to 23:00.

You could also make your way to the Oranjezicht City Farm Market, a mere stroll away from the Time Out Market.

At Fruits – Fresh from the farm strawberries are available in punnets of different sizes. At Golden Brown Waffles – Crispy and Delicious the waffles with strawberry and Nutella topping sell fast. It’s hard to walk past The CheeseCake Checkout and not succumb to their creamy cheesecake topped with strawberry coulis and fresh strawberries.

The Oranjezicht City Farm Market is open on Saturdays from 8:00 to 14:00 and on Sundays from 8:30 to 14:00. There’s also a Wednesday Night Market (from September to April) from 16:00 to 21:00.

When I put the word out that I’m in the (strawberry) daiquiri zone, I heard through the grapevine that the Vineyard Hotel is the place to go. 

The original building of the Vineyard dates from 1800; back in the day it was the home of Lady Anne Barnard (1750-1825), the Scottish travel writer, diarist, poet and amateur artist. Back then it was the first English style house in the Cape Colony. 

Stepping into the Vineyard the quiet elegance sets the scene for what is to come. From the Garden Patio you have a view over the exquisite gardens and Table Mountain beyond. Our friendly waiter confessed that they had no strawberry syrup which turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the barman presented me with a delicious strawberry daiquiri made with fresh strawberries only. 

For Restaurant Week (26 Sept – 2 Nov) their Morii Restaurant offers rose crème caramel, litchi, strawberry sorbet, vanilla-infused strawberries and meringue drops as one of the dessert choices. That alone is enough motivation for me to go back.

If you are heading out of Cape Town for a getaway, add Redberry Farm on the outskirts of George on the Garden Route to your itinerary. Redberry Farm is celebrating “25 years of berry blessings” this year, offering visitors lots to eat, shop and play.

You can pick your own strawberries (small container R45 and large R65), climb the Giant Strawberry to enjoy the view of the Outeniqua mountains and strawberry fields, and take a ride on the Redberry Express, a miniature replica of a real train. 

Choose between the Tea Garden, The Red Shed or Noshery Pizzeria & Deli or Bounty Eatery for a sit-down eating experience. 

There are no entrance fees; visitors are charged per activity.