Looking into syrup

Aug 06, 2026

At Gobelo, we do try as much as we can to source everything we need for our restaurants directly from the farm. Our farm to table approach is at the heart of what we do. There are things however, like mealie meal for the animals, detergents, office supplies, construction materials and some condiments, that even us, despite our resourcefulness, cannot make or grow. Syrup for us has not always been easy to source, and when we do find it, it is often not the best. While there is nothing particularly wrong with that, standing in the middle of a farm surrounded by all sorts of fruit trees, herbs and flowering plants, it is hard not to wonder if we could make it ourselves. We just know our own syrup, made right here at the farm, could be so much better.

Many plants naturally produce wonderful flavours through their fruit, nectar or sap, and these can become the foundation for delicious syrups. Others lend themselves to gentle infusions. Herbs like rosemary, thyme or basil each have their own unique aromas and flavours, while fruits such as mulberries, gooseberries, granadillas and strawberries all have their own distinct tastes that could make the perfect syrup. Even flowers that we have at the farm open up a whole new collection of possibilities.

Of course, like many of our other experiments, making syrup has proved to be a little complicated. Creating one that tastes good is one thing. Creating one that remains stable, keeps well and maintains its flavour over time is something else entirely. That has become one of the biggest parts of our learning. We have been reading, experimenting and making small batches, trying different techniques and ingredients to better understand what works. We are still very much at the beginning of this, but we are learning so much already. Every tweak brings us just a little closer to creating a syrup that reflects the farm, and that is exciting.

So who knows... perhaps soon there will be a Gobelo syrup made from the trees, fruits, herbs and flowers growing right here on the farm. We certainly hope so, and as always, we look forward to sharing the lessons and some Gobelo syrup with you.

 Until next time,
    The Gobelo Team