For the month of July, Boschendal, one of my favourite estates near fairest Franschhoek, is hosting a fabulous citrus festival. Celebrating all things citrus, this fun festival sees the estate pop with colour (lemon and orange undertones) and a host of family-friendly activities, including citrus pick and pluck experiences and winter picnics. Recently, Boschendal and The Phoenix Partnership invited me to experience this glorious citrus festival – and I had a blast!
In this photo essay, I share my thoughts on both Boschendal’s citrus pick and pluck experience, as well as their popular new winter picnics.
A Wintry, Citrus Sensation at Boschendal Wine Estate
The pick and pluck experience is reserved for weekends in July and is strictly weather-dependent.
I was delighted to be invited to join Boschendal as they kickstarted this incredible event. With such promising balmy weather conditions, the Saturday slots booked up fast. As such, I instead visited on the Sunday.
With perfect weather, the morning began at 11:00 am as the other guests and myself eagerly gathered in the main Werf area. (We were the first of two groups on the day to enjoy the citrus pick and pluck experience.)
Nearby, a tractor with a snazzy safari-style trailer awaited, ready to take us across to the other side of the farm.
Before the tractor ride, though, it was time for a refreshing taste of citrus: a delicious lemon cordial served near main display table. (These and other delicious cordials are for sale in the Farm Shop throughout July.)
I thoroughly enjoyed my cordial, which was sweet but perfectly refreshing and then it was time to hop abroad the tractor trailer. Seated on comfy canvas-style seats, we gently bounced our way down the drive, across the main road and over into the accommodation side of the estate.
With a mix of families, couples and kiddies, the excitement in the air was tangible, as good natured chatter and camera clicks filled the air.
The views, even from the trailer, of Boschendal’s stunning farmlands and the imposing mountains beyond, were spectacular. This, a veritable feast for the senses, as much as the citrusy goodness we would later enjoy!
I Get My Tango Mandarins (Naartjies) out at Boschendal
Once we arrived at the citrus orchards, near the top of the farm, we clamoured out and gathered around Charles, General Manager of Farming at Boschendal. Charles gave us a brief rundown of how to harvest the fruit from the trees.
It is especially important that you do not cut away any of the branch; doing so can render the branch infertile – and secondly, it actually shortens the lifespan of your harvested fruit. (In other words, you damage the tree and your fruit may go bad too.)
He also shared some fascinating insights into the gorgeous fruit we would be harvesting: tango seedless mandarins. Or, to those of us in South African, naartjies.
He advised us to look for the “reddish ones”, as these are the ripest. Another pro tip he gave was to go further into the orchard to avoid the sections that had already been (loosely) harvested. (Although, in truth, even the first trees were still heavily laden with beautiful, ripe fruits for as far as the eye could see.)
With our own bucket and clippers, we ascended into the bountiful orchards with rapidity. In truth, I cannot say who was more excited in our party: the young kiddies or we adults.
With my camera and phone at the ready, I began my experience mesmerised by the scenery, as peacocks and pickers snaked between the trees. Before us, the mountain rose imposing and strong, with ripe, bright orange fruit framing its foreground like nature’s poetic winter song.
A Harvest Experience Second to None
Every winter since my childhood, I feast off naartjies like they are a snack. But I have never seen or tasted such beautiful fruits as the ones Boschendal is growing here.
Not only do they look impeccable but they are sweet, succulent and juicy. Easy to peel too – always the measure of a good citrus fruit, in my humble opinion!
Charles and the team gave us about an hour in the orchards, although most of us finished with half an hour to spare. Even with all my videos and photos, I finished well in advance. So feel free to enjoy yourself, soak up the moment and snap some photos for the memory books.
With the bright wintery sunshine baring down on us and birdsong all around, it felt like I had stepped through the rabbit hole. Somehow, I had landed back in my childhood.
There is something about a working farm that heals the soul. Although, thankfully, we got to enjoy the easy, fun part of this activity. Normally, harvesting fruit on a farm is no walk in the park!
As we picked, the team notified us that for every additional kilogram, we would pay a bit extra. The fruit is weighed once you get back to the main Werf area.
However, even if your bucket is filled to the brim like mine, this is insanely good value for money and worth every cent!
Boschendal is allowing the public to pick fruits of the highest quality.
More than that, they are giving us the chance to get back to nature and experience precious moments with our loved ones. And after two years of COVID? That is truly priceless.
Scouring through the Orchards in Search of Citrus Bounty
Once we had finished our harvesting, we gathered back near the tractor and farm vehicle. Here, we handed our clippers back to Charles (please remember to do this) and thanked the team for this incredible experience in the glorious citrus orchards.
Another highlight of the pick and pluck experience is that guests are welcome to sample the fruits while they harvest. I decided not to test my balance against a bucket, a DSLR and a heavy handbag. But the others tucked in happily, commenting on the freshness and the sweet taste as they picked.
I have to say that, overall, this was one of the most thrilling wine farm experiences I have enjoyed to date. As anyone who has leisurely picked their own fruit can tell you, you feel like a kid on Christmas morning.
There is something endlessly exciting about scouring through the trees, going row to row, checking each branch and then setting your eyes on your citrusy prize. In my case, I chose a mix of small fruits and some huge ones – literally bigger than my hand!
As for the clipping, you just need to get your clippers in close to the stem and clip away carefully. If you do that, it’s really easy to get your fruit loose without damaging the branch in any way. Some of the pickers opted to leave a leaf or two on their fruits for display purposes but either way, these fruits look and taste like nature’s pure winter goodness.
Weighing Your Fruit at the Werf
After a short, fun tractor ride back, we disembarked at the main Werf area, near the citrus-themed display table, and queued in line to weigh our fruity haul. This process goes quickly and the team efficiently shifts your fruit from bucket to eco-friendly cardboard carry bag.
Even with a heavy, full bucket, I only had to pay in R30 extra, R10 for each extra kilo picked. For the experience overall and first kilogram, you pay R60 per person.
While I had my fruit weighed, I also bought one of Boschendal’s delicious Lemon and Poppy seed shortbread packets for R60. These, like the other citrus-themed treats, are well worth taking home with you! 🙂 They taste divine.
This was honestly such a fun experience and the best part is that, as an optional but highly recommended extra, guests can also pre-book a winter picnic to enjoy on the day.
Pick and Pluck Need to Know Info
As mentioned previously, the citrus pick and pluck experiences are limited to weekends in July (although the other citrus experiences can be enjoyed during the week). It is also weather dependent and may be cancelled/postponed due to adverse weather.
- This pick and pluck experience starts at R60 per person and gives you at least one (1) kg of beautiful fruit.
- The pick and pluck experience is limited to maximum of 30 guests per slot.
- Harvest trips depart at 11:00 am or 13:00 pm respectively. Guests are required to meet near the main Werf area at least fifteen minutes before the experience starts. In total, this experience lasts for roughly an hour.
For more information or to book, please contact the Boschendal reservations team directly by emailing: reservations@boschendal.co.za.
Citrus-themed Food and Drinks at the Boschendal Citrus Festival
If you cannot be part of the fun pick and pluck experience (I see the weekend of 23 – 24 July 2022 is already fully booked) – don’t fret. You can still enjoy citrus-inspired goodness on the farm, as the shops, Werf restaurant and even the wine tastings are taking their cue from the citrus inspiration.
Boschendal’s winter picnics also have a healthy citrus theme for the month of July. To book or for more information on the picnics, please see here.
Ending the Day off with a Winter Picnic at Boschendal
After a fun morning’s picking, I had worked up an appetite. So it was time to make my way to the Werf picnic area. (Who knew harvesting fruit for fun could be such hungry work?)
Again, Boschendal’s winter picnics are weather-dependent and advance booking is advised.
Picnic guests can choose between a table and chairs or comfy low back chairs, with snug picnic blanket. I chose a more relaxed approach and found my spot on the lawn.
The picnic area closes at 17:00 pm and picnic baskets are available for collection between 12:00 – 14:00 pm so you have ample time to feast and relax on the lawns.
A Wholesome Winter Picnic Spread
I love that Boschendal has become one of, if not the only estate to offer winter picnics! It makes for such a fun, refreshing winter outing.
For our citrus-themed picnic menu, we enjoyed a choice of drinks (drinks are excluded from your picnic price) and a delicious winter picnic spread.
On the day, this included the following:
- Farm baked ciabatta (served with butter, garden herb pesto and hummus);
- Winter salad (orange, beetroot, walnut and feta);
- Mushroom and aubergine pie;
- Roasted baby potatoes (with mustard butter and spring onions);
- Green bean salad (with coriander dressing and shaved parmesan);
- Dalewood camembert (served with onion marmalade and lavash);
- Traditional Malva pudding (served warm) with custard.
Overall, it was a delicious, filling picnic experience, with excellent service and a beautiful winter setting. (To be honest, after my picnic, I was still full past dinnertime!)
I wasn’t mad about all of the flavour combinations – but this is merely a personal preference.
I did, however, adore the ciabatta and garden herb pesto; pie (it was one of the best mini pies ever!); lavash and camembert option; and the decadent, still-warm Malva pudding that was essentially a hug-in-a-mug! (A faultless 10/10 for that one, for sure.)
Boschendal never disappoints with their wholesome, organic food, award-winning wines and stunning farm setting. These are further enhanced by the estate’s incredible teams and quality service!
Special Thanks
Please note that I was a guest of Boschendal and The Phoenix Partnership. As such, I was hosted for the pick and pluck experience and citrus-themed winter picnic. Drinks and other extras were paid for myself and as ever, my views remain my own.
Thank you so much to Kim, The Phoenix Partnership and all relevant Boschendal teams for ensuring such a faultless winter experience and delightful citrus festival! It was a pleasure joining you for this thrilling citrus festival!
I hope you also get to enjoy this wonderful winter festival in July. 🙂 Be sure not to miss it!
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