Marula Love

On our way to Mpumalanga to visit the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre and Chimp Eden for the weekend, we drove through Limpopo and stopped to visit the Amaraula Lapa to see where Amarula - my elixir of love - is made

This part of southern Africa is the only place in the world where the marula tree grows. They have not been successful cultivating it anywhere else!

Besides being delicious, the fruit of the marula tree is very nutritious. It has four times the vitamin C found in an orange.

The Amarula Lapa has a visitor's center and restaurant and they offer an informational film and tours.

There is also a gift shop and a tasting room!

It is important to visit during harvest time in the summer. Not only can you see the ripening fruit on the trees, you can visit the factory where the harvested fruit is made into mash before it is distilled in oak barrels in the Western Cape for two years.

bushels of harvested marula fruit

The factory employs the local community during harvest.

inside the factory

 
The fruit has a very large pit which is removed during the harvest and given to the local communities. The pit contains oil which the local community extracts and processes during the rest of the year for income after harvesting is complete.

marula mash

After the tour ... lunch and an Amarula Don Pedro in the cafe.  It is the perfect South African Valentine's dessert!