South Africa’s olive oil industry is flourishing - our valleys are producing bottles of green-gold nectar that rival anything from Spain, Italy, or Greece. Once the supporting act to wine country, olive oil has now carved out its own stage, celebrated in tastings, farm tours and kitchen cupboards across the land. From the rolling groves of Paarl and Stellenbosch to the rugged beauty of the Klein Karoo and Swartland, local producers are perfecting small-batch, cold-pressed extra virgin oils known for their purity and complexity.
Many are family-run farms - names like De Rustica Olive Estate, Mardouw Investments,Tokara, Rio Largo, Morgenster, and Willow Creek - combining Mediterranean tradition with South African innovation. Together, they’ve transformed olive growing from a quiet niche into a celebrated craft, with our oils regularly taking top honours at international competitions.
But olive oil is more than just a drizzle on your salad or a partner to ciabatta. In true South African fashion, we’ve discovered that this humble oil has a mischievous, multi-tasking streak. It sneaks into beauty regimes, solves household problems and even rescues the occasional braai master.
So, pour yourself a glass of Chenin Blanc, grab that bottle and let’s take a tour of ten unconventional uses that prove olive oil is as versatile as it is delicious.
1. The DIY Glow Serum ✨
Luxury skincare brands would have you believe that radiance comes in tiny, overpriced dropper bottles. But olive oil laughs in the face of these marketing campaigns. One or two drops massaged into your skin before bed can leave you glowing like you’ve just checked into a Franschhoek spa. The antioxidants and Vitamin E sink into your skin while you sleep, so you wake up looking less “morning commuter” and more “sunset in Paarl.”
What makes it even more South African is the ritual of it. Instead of importing serums from Paris, we’re tapping into something pressed just down the road in the Cape winelands. It’s affordable, sustainable and it smells faintly of sunshine on a grove. And if you’re worried about looking shiny? Think of it less as “oily” and more as “dewy chic” - Beyoncé would approve.
2. A Power Outage Lifesaver 🕯️
Whether for lighting when the power is out or for ambience during a romantic dinner, long soak in the tub or to add atmosphere to the home, candles have always held their place in South African homes. But when the last wax pillar has burned down, olive oil offers an elegant alternative.
Simply pour it into a glass jar, slip in a cotton wick, and you’ve created a lamp that glows with the same sophistication as any boutique votive. It burns cleanly, without the messy wax residue, and brings a warm, curated feel to any space. And if you don’t have a wick - don’t worry. A tightly twisted strand of cotton thread or a thin strip of natural fabric works just as beautifully, especially if pre-soaked in the oil. Stage 6 might flick the switches off, but it doesn’t have to extinguish the atmosphere.
3. The Silent Hinge Hero
There’s a certain soundtrack that belongs to old hinges: that high-pitched squeal, sharp as a violin string pulled too tight, announcing every door you open. Enter olive oil, the hush-bringer. Dabbed onto a cloth and rubbed along the hinge, it silences the protest instantly.
It’s not just about convenience; it’s about atmosphere. No more horror-film creaks when you fetch a midnight snack, no more nails-on-chalkboard screeches interrupting your peace. Just the quiet dignity of doors that glide open smoothly, thanks to one unassuming pantry staple.
4. Beard and Hair Tamer 💇
Every barber worth his salt knows the secret: olive oil smooths frizz and adds shine like nothing else. A few drops rubbed into a beard will turn “wild bushy” into “Cape Town creative director chic.” For hair, it works as a leave-in conditioner, tackling curls that have spent one too many days in the Highveld wind.
Olive oil’s real wonder work shines on African hair. Rich, tightly coiled textures are prone to dryness because natural oils struggle to travel down the strands. Olive oil steps in like a moisture superhero, sealing hydration into each curl and softening the hair shaft so it’s more elastic, less breakable and easier to style. With regular use, it not only nourishes the scalp but also promotes healthier growth.
The best part? It’s natural, affordable and grown right here under the African sun. No chemical-laden bottles imported with glossy labels, no mystery ingredients - just the same liquid gold you drizzle over your salad doing double duty as a luxury hair elixir.
5. Polish for Proudly South African Wood 🪵
From heirloom stinkwood dining tables to the carved giraffe you impulse-bought on a road trip, we South Africans have a soft spot for wood. Olive oil, when mixed with a squeeze of lemon juice, becomes the gentlest, most effective polish you’ll ever use. It soaks into the grain, reviving tired furniture and leaves behind a lustre that feels almost ceremonial. It’s also wonderful for conditioning wooden bowls and chopping boards - keeping them nourished, smooth and food-safe without a trace of harsh chemicals.
Imagine it: you’re not just dusting; you’re honouring the stories embedded in that wood. The sideboard your grandmother hosted Christmas lunches on, the carved salad spoons passed down from an aunt. A little olive oil rub transforms them into pieces that gleam with pride. Furniture care has never been this soulful.
6. Gum-Busting Trick for Parents 🎈
If you’ve raised children, you know this scene: one moment they’re chewing happily, the next they’re screaming because gum is matted in their hair. Olive oil is the unsung saviour. Rub it gently into the mess and the gum slides out without drama, scissors or tears.
It’s not just hair. Olive oil tackles gum stuck to car seats, carpets, even school uniforms. Parents call it the “miracle hack” because it avoids expensive dry cleaning bills and keeps tantrums at bay. If you thought olive oil was only good for roasting potatoes, wait until it saves your Saturday morning.
7. Shine for Veldskoene 👞
There’s no footwear more iconic than a pair of battered veldskoens - good, solid leather desert boots. They carry dust from Karoo gravel roads and the scuff of dance floors at Oppikoppi. But after a while, they start to look more relic than classic. Olive oil brings them back to life.
A small dab rubbed into the leather softens it, darkens the tone and leaves the shoe with a healthy glow. No toxic polish smell, no sticky residue - just the feeling that your “vellies”are ready for their next adventure. It’s the footwear equivalent of a spa treatment, South African style.
8. The Braai Master’s Hand Rescue 🔥
Braaiing is an art form, but it’s also brutal on the hands. Between smoke, dry heat and constant tongs action, your skin ends up parched and smelling faintly of smoke and garlic. Olive oil comes to the rescue, working as a soothing post-braai balm.
Photo by Photography Maghradze PH: https://tinyurl.com/4ym4a532
A man braaing meats
Rubbed into the hands, it moisturises deeply, easing cracks and softening roughness and easing away the cracks earned at the fire. Some even claim it helps to gently mask the lingering smoke scent that insists on following you long after the last boerewors roll has disappeared. It’s less a shiny medal for services rendered at the grill, and more a clever little secret - a practical splash of luxury that leaves even the braai master’s hands looking as polished as the serving platters.
9. Unsticking Tricky Zips 🧥
Few frustrations rival a stuck zip - whether it’s on a winter coat, a tent flap or a golf bag. Cue the cotton bud and olive oil trick. Glide it along the teeth of the zip and suddenly it’s moving smoother than a Joburg traffic cop’s hand wave.
It’s such a simple fix, yet it feels like wizardry. There’s something deeply satisfying about solving a problem instantly with a pantry staple. In fact, once you try it, you’ll find yourself offering the tip to friends at braais, just for the joy of seeing their astonishment.
10. The Gardener’s Best Friend 🌱
South Africans are gardeners at heart, whether tending to roses in Sandton or mielies in Limpopo. But garden tools often bear the brunt of our love - rust, stiffness and wear creep in too quickly. A light spritz of olive oil and water on spades, shears and hoes keeps them gleaming and rust-free.
It’s not just about maintenance; it’s about respect for the tools that feed and beautify our lives. Just as olive oil nourishes our bodies, it also nourishes the steel and wood that help us coax life from the soil. It’s a full-circle moment that would make even your grandmother’s gardening club proud.
Why It All Matters
At first glance, these might look like hacks. But really, the genius of it lies in its simplicity. South Africans are resourceful; and olive oil fits right into that spirit. It adapts, surprises and elevates. So next time you reach for that bottle, remember: you’re not just drizzling a salad. You’re unlocking a dozen possibilities, each one more unexpected than the last.
Our liquid gold has found a home here - not just in kitchens, but in the quirks and corners of everyday life. And that, perhaps, is the most delicious story of all.
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