Spekboom is the newest ingredient celebrated at The Palace of the Lost City
There are ingredients we cook with because they are familiar, and then there are ingredients we choose because they teach us something. Spekboom has become one of those teachers for me. It is subtle and often overlooked in South African kitchens, and yet it carries an entire world of meaning within those small, succulent leaves.
When we began reimagining the breakfast offering at the Crystal Court with the turn of the season rolling into longer, warmer days, I found myself turning to this plant for its unmistakable South African soul.
Spekboom has a way of thriving in even the most unlikely environments. In sun-baked landscapes where the earth can offer little more than dust, it remains resilient. The evergreen foliage will be plump with moisture and bright with life in both the scorching summer months and bitter winter cold. Known fondly as the “elephant bush” for the bond the plant shares with the mammal, Spekboom leaves store liberal amounts of moisture year-round. It provides essential nutrients in months where other shrubbery dies out, and in turn the elephant’s feeding patterns promote new growth. I find poetry in the plant’s enduring strength, and it speaks to the generosity we want to share in the Crystal Court offering.
When I thought about what the Crystal Court breakfast should offer guests, beyond the beauty and nourishment found on every plate, it was that the meal should tell a story. Breakfast is our first meal every day, and it is a time where we ground ourselves in our surroundings and the people around us. Including spekboom in the offering felt like an invitation to connect with the landscape of South Africa itself.
Spekboom is not only symbolic, the leaves bring a distinctive brightness to the plate, and even the taste of the plant is deeply connected to the natural environment. The leaves have a sharp lemony taste, with a gentle tartness that is a lovely addition to salads or preserves, adding much needed refreshment to richer flavours. It is an ingredient that tastes light, playful and uniquely South African. This clean, green flavour brings a boost of energy that is perfect for a relaxed morning meal.
Introducing Spekboom to our breakfast experience is a homage to the country’s botanical heritage, but it also reminds me of the simple intelligence found in nature. It asks us to pay attention to the small things, and to appreciate the most humble ingredients that sprout without our notice. As the sun rises over Pilansberg and breakfast is prepared under the marble columns of the Crystal Court, the tart green leaves of Spekboom serve as a reminder of the lessons I’ve learned in the South African landscape: that generosity grows all around us, and the most humble beginnings can make for the most striking finish.
Overnight guests at The Palace of the Lost City are invited to enjoy the Crystal Court breakfast buffet included with their stay.
