Avocado is a surprisingly versatile fruit and its use stretches far beyond the party staple of guacamole. Makizushi lovers will recognise its slightly nutty flavour, paired with cucumber and crab meat, as a key ingredient in California rolls. Avocado’s mellow flavour and creamy texture are an ideal addition to sandwiches and salads and this subtlety also combines well with strong herbs and spices when used in soups.
Now, with the recent introduction of Avozilla, there’s even more to go around. Avozilla isn’t your average avocado; at nearly five times the size of a standard fruit, it’s around 12 centimetres long and weighs close to 1.3 kilograms. That’s enough guacamole to get the party started and keep it going all night.
To soften expectations, however, don’t expect these Westfalia-produced super-avocados to suddenly appear on the shelves of your local supermarket. They’re actually quite rare and are grown on just four trees in an avocado rich region in the northern Limpopo province of South Africa.
Teeming with wildlife and boasting some stunning landscapes, Limpopo has recently emerged as an up-and-coming eco-tourism destination in South Africa. It’s also home to the Sunland farm and the Big Baobab, a tree which is 22 metres high, 47 metres in circumference, and carbon dated to around 6000 years old.
While it’s clearly an old tree, it’s also unique in that its now hollow trunk is the location of the Baobab Tree Bar, where a dartboard stands at the ready and cold beer is always on tap. If you would instead prefer to sample some fine South African wines, a second hollow in this giant tree was converted into a wine cellar and you’ll have a wide selection to choose from.
Avozilla-size or not, avocados and the Baobab Tree Bar, together with the province’s eco-tourism, make Limpopo an alluring travel destination.