Although macadamia trees are not native to South Africa (they were originally discovered in Australia), these nut trees grow exceedingly well in the warm, dry climate of northern Limpopo. Royal Macadamia, a macadamia nut factory outside Louis Trichardt, has been processing macadamias from the surrounding farming community for more than two decades. 
 
Originally established as a cooperative of seven macadamia nut farmers in 1996, Royal Macadamia now has ten shareholders and works with a huge number of both large and small farmers. Nuts come to Royal Macadamia to be dried, cracked, sorted, and packaged or processed into oil, nut butter/spread, flour, or other macadamia products. The products are distributed in bulk and also sold onsite at the Royal Macadamia retail shop, the Royal Basket.
 
Macadamia nuts are extremely healthy — high in fibre, vitamin E, and monounsaturated fat. At 80 percent monounsaturated fat, macadamia nut oil is higher in this healthy fat than any other cooking oil, including olive oil. Macadamia oil also has a very high smoke point (234 degrees Celsius) and a long shelf life and is hence ideal for stir-frying, sautéing, and for salad dressings. 
 
Visitors can take a guided tour of the factory (only with advanced arrangement) and watch the massive Royal Macadamia machines cracking and sorting the nuts. Once shelled, Royal Macadamia staff members inspect each kernel for consistent color, size, and shape before approving the nuts for packaging. 
 
The delicious smell of macadamia nuts is overwhelming inside the factory. But don’t give in to the temptation to swipe a few — tasting nuts in the factory is strictly against the rules!
 
Once you’ve worked up an appetite in the factory, the Royal Basket shop is the perfect place to go for your macadamia nut fix. The shop stocks every kind of macadamia product imaginable, in a variety of sizes, as well as countless flavours and types of shelled macadamia nuts. Nuts are sold unsalted, salted, and dusted with exotic flavours like salt and pepper, chilli lime, bun spice, white chocolate, and many more. (It’s impossible to go wrong with any of the flavours.) The shop also carries a variety of other types of nuts, mixed nuts, dried fruits, jams, and other locally made products. 
 
Best of all, Royal Macadamia’s nuts come straight from the source which means they are infinitely cheaper than macadamia nuts sold in larger retail outlets in South Africa and abroad. Just make sure the nuts you buy are stored in your boot during the drive back to wherever you’re going: Otherwise they will almost certainly be eaten by the time your reach your destination.
 
Royal Macadamia is on the R524 in the Levubu area, about 36 kilometers east of Louis Trichardt. GPS coordinates -23.060116, 30.155736. Call 015-151-0077 or email admin@royalmacadamia.co.za. The Royal Basket trading hours are 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday (closed on public holidays). Visit www.royalmacadamia.co.za for more information.