In short, we have done the 'flavour work'; we've put in the kitchen time - that is why our products have so many devoted fans!
Turqle has two brands: Cape Treasures - a taste of the Cape - deliciously mellow, classic Cape flavours, and Ukuva iAfrica - a taste of Africa - feisty, lively and often fiery; a travellers tale told in flavours.
Cape Treasures
Smooth classics with the essential flavour signature of the Cape: rich, well developed, complex and intense. It is everyday fine dining - it really does make good food wonderful.
RELISHES: Mostly made by hand from real ingredients - real vegetables, many of them grown where the products are made.
MUSTARDS: Semi-grain style with intense mustard flavour and an unmistakeable flavour nuance of the Cape...
SMOKED OLIVE OIL: All the magic of a great olive oil with a hint of smoke that enchants everything it touches - particularly green beans, mushrooms, pasta dishes...
SEA SALT: Real, natural sea salt with all the original sea minerals likes people - its the salt we were meant to eat... That's why just a tiny sprinkle makes food taste delicious!
SEASONING TUBS: Perfect seasoning solutions in a single tub. Get it right every time - no question.
FRUIT INFUSED BALSAMIC REDUCTIONS: Intensely flavourful and deliciously versatile - think salad dressings, glazes - the secret ingredient that instantly pulls together a meat sauce or gravy...
Ukuva iAfrica
Ukuva iAfrica is the "Taste of Africa": BIG flavours - mesmerisingly complex - often hot - robust and delicious. Its a travellers' tale told in flavours.
BIG BOTTLE SAUCES: Versatile and robust: marinade in the flavour, add a bit during grilling, baste it on to finish and eventually add some at the table (if needed!).
HOT SAUCES: For those looking for hotness with real flavour: try Malawi Gold, Swazi Mama Mamba, Zulu Fire Sauce and Mombasa Peri Peri...
NOT SO HOT SAUCES: Harissa, Chakalaka, Safari BBQ, Chermoula and Cape Malay: just enough heat to be interesting - the authenic flavours of their region is the main story...
HOT DROPS: Made to add instant hotness and flavour at the table. At the mild end of the range there is mildly spicy Garlic & Chilli and the heavenly Sweet Chilli with a hint of Ginger. In the decidedly 'not mild' range is the fascinating Fermented Four Chilli sauce, the Smoky Habanero and the Lemon Jalapeno. At the top of the heat-heap is the GHOST chilli sauce. It starts off almost mild, but it builds and builds and stays around to haunt the diner for hours...
SOUTH AFRICAN BLENDS: The tastes of 'home' that make the ex-pats swoon: some spice blends have become South African classics: Rosie's - the flavour of the Bo-Kaap; Braai - the braai-master's ultimate BBQ blend; Peri Peri - the spine of the flavour of Peri Peri Chicken and Prawns (flame-grilled of course!) and Chakalaka - a hint of curry, a touch of heat... Its the flavour of Soweto.
HOT ROCKS: Hot Rocks ROCK - its chilli salt with a little something extra. Hot has an extra dose of hotness, Mild has a touch of lime that adds a note of intrigue and Onion & Garlic balances the heat with some sweeter notes. Smoked delivers exactly what it promises: salty chilliness with a whiff of smoke to tempt the palate.
FLO PEPPER GRINDERS: Fairtrade certified black pepper in flavours that fascinate and intrigue. From the almost addictive Swahili Lemon Pepper - people will go to extraordinary lengths to get their supplies - to plain black pepper, Madagascar Garlic Pepper, Mozambique, Umzimvubu, Rainbow Pepper, Night and Day and Kariba Sunset (tomato pepper), each blend is a compelling flavour-story.
SPICE GRINDERS: There is the essential Zulu Fire Spice, a delicious blend of green herbs in Cape Garden, herbs with seaweed and salt in Khoisan blend, the mysterious Yassa from West Africa and Zanzibar which has a dedicated international fan base (who will go to great lengths to replenish their stock!).
Turqle also packs products under private, fair trade labels...
El Puente - Germany
El Puente in Germany has a range of about forty products under their own label. In many cases the products are not identical to the Ukuva or Cape Treasures products - there are tiny differences in some of the formulations, and in some cases the products were made especially for El Puente. El Puente is a WFTO Guaranteed Fair Trade member in their own right - that is why all their products carry the WFTO GS label.
Fair Trade Original
Fair Trade Original in the Netherlands have four grinders that we developed to suit the preferences of the Dutch supermarkets. These grinders are available at many of the larger supermarkets: Albert Heijn, Jumbo, Plus, Sligro/EMTE and some speciality shops: the 'Waar' winkels and some World Shops. Jumbo, Plus and Albert Heijn also have on-line shops.
We have been building our export market since 1997. There are Cape Treasures and Ukuva products in the UK, the USA, Western Europe, Sweden and Australia (see the 'contacts' pages of Cape Treasures and Ukuva for lists of stockists).
In 2015 we engaged a Cape Town based speciality distribution company (South African Trade Enquiries to Diletto Distribution) and early in 2016 we launched our South African online shop.
Ultimately, it is about delivering what we promise: an excellent people story AND a good food story: great tasting products - made with the best ingredients - by people who really like food.
Isn't that nice to know?
