Cape cookery: traditional melktert, melkkos & koesisters

Only 10 spaces available.

Milk tart is the unofficial national dessert of South Africa. It features in the traditional style – with a liberal sprinkle of cinnamon – at any self-respecting home industry store and in many South African home bakers’ recipe books. There’s even a dedicated national Milk Tart Day celebrated annually on 27 February. Join us in the heritage kitchen of Soetmelksvlei, a new Babylonstoren excursion, to celebrate and enjoy milk tart in all its delicious glory.

Following a short ride along the picturesque slopes of Simonsberg, we’ll descend towards the historical farmyard of Soetmelksvlei, which represents a time when life was simpler, and craftsmanship was treasured.

Here, master baker Martjie Malan will teach you the art of making traditional milk tart using the simplest of farm ingredients. We’ll also explore a variation on this recipe named melkkos (meaning “milk food”) and learn to bake traditional Cape Malay-inspired koesisters infused with sugar syrup and spice.

After a hands-on morning in the farm air, we’ll enjoy a hearty lunch in the Old Stables Restaurant before heading back to Babylonstoren.