About Us
!Xairu Tradu is a holistic, rural-based enterprise employing local women that
organically grows fruit and vegetables to make an assortment of jams and condiments;
distils Limoncello from our lemons;
produces honey from the Renosterveld flora;
offers environmentally conscious individual/s, a unique, break-away experiences in a rustic, but relatively basic, comfortable, camping facility
arrange cooking & bread-baking courses, Renosterveld tours, bush-yoga and a host of outdoor activities on a small holding, erf 513 Rietkuil, midway (30km) between Swellendam and Heidelberg on the N2.
Take the Suurbraak turn-off from the N2 to Rietkuil, a 5 km dirt road through a number of small holdings to !Xairu Tradu.
​
INTRODUCTION TO LIMONCELLO
Limoncello is a century-old lemon liqueur traditionally produced in Southern Italy, especially around the Gulf of Naples, the Sorrentine Peninsula, the Amalfi coast and on the islands of Procida, Ischia, and Capri. In northern Italy, the liqueur is often referred to instead as limoncino.
Limoncello has usually a slightly turbid appearance, which originates from the presence of small essential oil droplets suspended in the drink. The spontaneous emulsification of hydrophobic essential oils in alcohol/water mixtures is often referred to as the ouzo effect.
Now distilled locally !Xairu Tradu small holding from organically grown lemons in the Suurbraak area of Swellendam in the Western Cape
The Tradau !Xairu Limoncello is triple distilled – thus the clear, smooth, rich flavour of our local version, giving you the potent, sweet and intensely lemony liqueur taste of summer any time of year.
Limoncello is traditionally served chilled as a pre-dinner aperitief but over the years it is also now drunk as an after dinner or cocktail drink any time of the day.
Tradau !XAIRU
Artisinal Distillers & Purveyors of Organic Produce
Made by local women, using only the zest from organically grown lemons – slowly infused into distilled alcohol, then triple filtered, matured & chilled – in the foothills of the Langeberg Mountains outside Suurbraak, Swellendam RSA.
A delicate, smooth taste, with no additives or preservatives. This rich, clear aperitif can be drunk neat; on crushed ice; with soda; in cocktails; over sorbet/ice cream; over cake or a creamy, cheese desserts
!Xairu Tradu
Tented, Bush Retreat
!Xairu Tradu Tented, Bush Retreat is a rustic camp site, 256 km from Cape Town, is located on a small holding that farms organically and sustainably. We offer an authentic, bush-camping experience, with the luxury of sleeping in a comfortable bed without the fuss and hassle of pitching your own tent.
The bush retreat is midway (30km) between Swellendam and Heidelberg on the N2. Taking the Suurbraak turn-off to Rietkuil, drive the scenic 5 km dirt road through a number of small holdings to arrive at !Xairu Tradu, on farm 513 Rietkuil. Here you have the choice of a comfortable, fully-equipped, self-catering, rustic, tented-accommodation OR camp out in a basic, pre-pitched tent where you just bring your own equipment and camp out under the trees, along a gentle seasonal, stream.
This is comfort camping but the water is rain-harvested so use only potable water, supplied, for drinking
Glamping Tent
Choose between the BLUE CRANE or the WEAVER'S NEST site
WEAVER'S NEST
This raised, ground floor site has a comfortable, queen-size bed. The furnishing and utensils supplied are suited for two adults and up to two small children.
​
All cooking, eating, drinking and braai utensils are provided. From the hammock, on the side, or from under the shade of the thorn tree, listen to the dozen's of weaver birds busy in the nests further up the stream.
​
​
En-suite bathrooms
Each glamp tent has a spacious rustic, but basic bathroom, leading off from the bedroom.
​
The toilet is an environmentally-friendly composting system that feeds our organic agri-system.
The large shower has a cold and warm water supply powered by the sun. All grey water feeds into the natural environment around the site.
Each unit is spacious and well away from your nearest neighbour
Glamping Tent Options
​
Come spend some time in one of our two x single-beds or double-bed, self-catering, fully-equipped comfortable tents, with kitchen & large bathroom OR
in one of our pre-pitched, two-roomed tents besides a fire pit, sharing rustic communal facilities close-by.
_edited.jpg)
BLUE CRANE offers two single-beds, furnished and with all the necessary utensils.
Glamping tent 2
Divided into three, each has a living area; bedroom with either two-single or double-bed and a bathroom area with a composting toilet, basin and shower.
Adequate Internal lighting is from a small solar-charged battery system providing adequate lighting. It can charge a camera or cell phone only.
​
View the amazing bird life around the camp as well as the brilliant night sky for a comfortable camp chair or lounger provided.
​
_edited.jpg)
The raised balcony and kitchen area
​
On the balcony you can cook on the gas-burner or rocket stove provided or braai at the fire pit alongside it.
​
​
Adequate supply of fire wood will burn long into the night as you gaze up into the amazing night sky
This is comfort-camping. But remember to keep the mozzies at bay with a good insect repellent
Pre-erected Tent option
Choose from a pre-erected two-roomed dome or a cabin tent
DUNG BETTLE
Rugged Camping
This is a pre-erected, two roomed dome tent. It is unfurnished nor equipped. You bring along all your own equipment and utensils but we provide all the fire wood and lighting along a large fire pit.
OTTER'S POOL
Spacious Camping
As an alternative to the glamp-tent option, but to avoid the hassle of erecting your own tent, move into one of our pre-erected two-roomed tents.
​
Here you can bring your own equipment and utensils but still enjoy the camp settings in the bush.
COMMUNAL FACILITY
Two rustic bathrooms close-by
This rustic communal facility close to the pre-erected tents have two composting toilets, hand basins, one with a large shower, the other a full bath. Warm water supply is from a rocket-stove-fired, mini "donkey" water heater. There is a two-basin kitchen sink, along-side
This provides rustic comfort in the wild.
There is nothing better than the big open sky at !Xairu Tradu
There is nothing like being close to nature
Only you and he clear blue sky
Stay in one of our fully equipped glamp-tents or set up ypu own camp in one of our pre-erected tents
Amazing winter sky
Sleep in a comfortable single or double bed with bathroom and kitchen under the big African sky
There is a large fire pit at the communal gazebo
Chill out by the fire pit , cook on the rocket stove or gas burner provided.
The Environment Around You
A plethora of local flora and fauna to enjoy
Renosterveld and a host of local flora
There are some amazing plant life all around the site and in the veld
Local visitors
You will be visited occasionally by some of our sheep, chickens, otter, mongoose and the host of other animals in the fields
Bird Life
In addition to our free-ranged chicken population there are more than 50 other bird species on offer to view at your leisure
Ways of Drinking Limoncello & Tasty Recipes
Keep your bottle in the fridge or freezer for optimum chill before drinking but can be kept on the shelf for ages without any deterioration in the flavour because of the high alcohol content.
​
Traditionally limoncello is served in small, ice-cold doses and sipped slowly.
If a little too syrupy in its neat form, try diluting it with crushed ice or soda water. A dash of fresh lemon juice offers some acidity to balance limoncello's sweetness.
Limoncello lemonade is made by adding pink lemonade or limeade with a few leaves of mint or fresh raspberries to a tot of limoncello.
Limoncello and iced tea blend make great mixers.
Limoncello added to a dry sparkling wine makes a great cocktail drink
Gin, or flavored vodkas, particularly raspberry, vanilla and lime with limoncello, fresh lemon juice and soda water makes a great "limontini" using three parts gin or vodka to one part limoncello.
Limoncello as a tall drink requires a tall (Collins) glass with ice and add one ounce of chilled limoncello topped off with your choice of:
Crushed ice
Unsweetened iced tea
Lemonade
Club soda or sparkling water
Cola
Cranberry juice
Tropical fruit punch
Add a thinly sliced lemon wheel or fresh berries – and enjoy.
Limoncello Gin Cocktail
1 tot Limoncello
1 tot gin
4 tot soda
Lots of ice
Lemon peel for garnishing
​
Fill a tall glass with ice and add the limoncello and gin. Top with soda and stir. Garnish and enjoy.
.jpg)
Bacio del Limone
Italian for "lemon kiss". This fluted drink is every bit as simple as the tall drinks but with an elegant presentation that makes it festive.
​
4 tots sparkling wine (Chilled)
1 tot limoncello (Chilled)
Crushed ice
5-6 fresh black berries, rasberries or currants.
​
Place a spoonful of crushed ice in a fluted glass and top with fresh berries. Combine the sparkling wine and limoncello in a mixing glass and stir lightly just to mix, being careful not to destroy the bubbles. Pour the mixture over the berries and ice.
Limoncello Iced Tea
In a tall glass with plenty of ice, combine:
1 tot Limoncello
Enough Iced Tea to fill the glass
Variation
Add 2 tots of cranberry juice to the liqueur before you add the iced tea.
Add 1 or 2 tots of freshly squeezed orange juice to your liqueur and iced tea combo to make it extra citrusy.
Add some freshly crushed rasberries and blueberries to the original recipe.
Limoncello Long Island Iced Tea
Try this different twist on a traditional favourite.
1/2 tot vodka
1/2 tot gin
1/2 tot tequila
1/2 tot rum
1/2 tot limoncello
1/2 tot triple sec
Enough Iced Tea to top off glass.
Lemon Highlander
1 tot scotch
1/2 tot Drambuie
1/2 tot Limoncello
Build in a rocks glass over crackled ice. Stir and serve with a twist of lemon.
