SOUTH AFRICA | ZA1, Cosmos | ZA2, Buffalo Thorn | ZA3, Boland Fynbos & Buchu | ZA4, Citrus | ZA5, Aloe Davyana | ZA6, Protea Mundii & Fynbos | ZA7, Northwest Province Bushveld Honey | ZA8, Overberg Fynbos | ZA9, Yellowbox Eucalyptus | ZA10, Alewynspoort Multi-Flora | ZA11, Cat Thorn (Drogie) E. Cape | ZA12, Tsitsakamma Fynbos Honey |
ZA11, Cat Thorn (Drogie) E. Cape Honey
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The honey
In August 2025, we gathered at the Eastern Cape’s Bee Spirit Conference, where a regional honey and hive products competition was judged by the SA Honey Judges Guild.
For me, it was a special opportunity to profile this iconic Eastern Cape mono-floral honey alongside the Guild, and to meet Kola in person for the very first time. This variety was fairly new to my palate, yet I was told that this Drogie harvest represents a sterling example of this much-loved Eastern Cape honey. The honey is medium to light amber, catching an orange glow when held to the light. Its aroma is distinctive: wet rag, vegetal, and aniseed notes reminiscent of mosbolletjie, a traditional South African baked delicacy. There’s also a subtle mineral undertone. On the palate, the flavour is exquisite, evoking liquorice with a whisper of toffee, finishing with a cooling menthol note. The mouthfeel is luxuriously smooth and buttery. This medium-sweet honey is celebrated for its liquid longevity. Kola notes that it can remain in the comb for up to six months during winter before any granulation appears. In the Eastern Cape, Scutia myrtina, commonly known as cat-thorn or Drogie, flowers from October to January, spanning late spring to early summer. The plant bears small, greenish-white, star-shaped flowers in clusters. While not showy, they are fragrant and attract a variety of pollinators, supporting the bees that create this extraordinary honey. The beekeeping
Jakobus “Kola” le Roux is one of the Eastern Cape’s most accomplished beekeepers, based near East London and Macleantown. Kola’s beekeeping journey started in 1980 with just one hive. Today, his beekeeping operation spans more than 2,000 hives.
Kola manages colonies strategically placed across diverse landscapes from Komga and Fort Beaufort to Cradock and Somerset East. Kola’s reputation rests not only on the scale of his operation, but on his deep understanding of the region’s ecology. He works in harmony with the seasonal rhythms of the Eastern Cape, recognising that rainfall and flowering cycles of plants such as the indigenous drogie bush (Scutia myrtina) dictate both the character and the volume of honey produced. When drought or late rains threaten nectar flows, Kola adapts—moving hives between regions to follow winter-blooming eucalyptus or summer flora, ensuring both the resilience of his bees and the consistency of his harvests. Through this knowledge-driven approach, Kola produces distinctive, multifloral honeys that capture the character of the Eastern Cape’s varied terroirs, while safeguarding the long-term health of his bees. His work embodies the balance of tradition, adaptability, and ecological stewardship that defines exceptional beekeeping. |
