Garlic Galore The Pungent Smell Of Success

Three months after lockdown was implemented last year, dealing a nasty blow to her business, Santie Marais from Laingsburg took her chances and bought a successful small enterprise that elevates Karoo garlic to salivating new heights.

- Peter Van Noord

To most motorists, the town of Laingsburg, 274km north-east of Cape Town, is a place for overnighting or to stop for a “pee, petrol and pie” while travelling the “road of death” – the treacherous stretch of N1 between Touws River and Beaufort West. Of course, this Karoo dorp is also synonymous with the flood disaster of 25 January 1981, 40 years ago now, in which 104 people lost their lives – 72 bodies were never found.

Only 21 homes remained intact in Laingsburg after the Buffels River burst its banks. The frightening level reached by the floodwaters is indicated on the orange wall of the Flood Museum in Voortrekker Street – at the turn-off to the Flood Museum complex in Meiring Street.

Just after turning left at the wall you’ll find, behind the KFC, a simple Karoo-style house with a patch of grass, tables and pepper trees for shade where you and your dog can take a breather. Under one of the trees is a large shiny bowl of water and a sign: “Water for your dog… or short people with low standards – we don’t judge.” This very house, Koup Knoffel’s

House of Garlic, also known as Hakkiesdraad, is listed in the latest edition of the glamorous International Vampire Traveller as one of the 10 most dangerous spots in the world. Why? Because in this part of the Koup, garlic reigns supreme. Pickled, whole or flavoured, sun-dried in flakes, or stealing the show as an ingredient in mustard, chutney, salad dressing, marinade, olives and salt blends.