GRAIN FREE, REGENERATIVE DAIRY
SLOW FOOD COMMUNITY MEMBER
Situated just outside Howick, in the KZN Midlands, is Preston Farm. Nestling in the rolling hills of the Karkloof, this beautiful farm – established in 1972 – is a family farm owned and run by Grant Warren. When he joined his father, John,in 1990, the farm was a smallholding with no more than 20 Jersey cows and one old tractor. With no working capital, it was one step at a time. Beginning with a small patch of cabbages, income was continually reinvested and the farm has grown to become the Home of La Petite France.
GMO free and grain free dairy products are handmade on Preston Farm. Jersey and Swedish Red cows graze the lush green pastures surrounding the dairy and factory. Grant's philosophy is one of natural balance so the focus is on milk quality and not quantity. An abundance of rye grass enables the cows to produce rich, sweet-tasting, top quality milk. Cows, being natural grazers, are given the freedom to graze the fields day and night, the whole year round. They are not fed grains or maize silage since almost all modern grains are genetically modified and are crops which require chemical spraying with insecticides and other poisons.
Our cows are not pushed for production using processed foods or hormones.They develop a high natural immunity thus minimising veterinary interventions. This translates into milk with high food density, digestibility and delicious natural sweetness. Regular testing ensures high health and safety standards are met.
With the factory being situated on the farm near the dairy, there is no need to store or transport the milk. We use it still warm from the cows!
Our cheeses are handmade using gentle techniques and processes. We keep it simple...just milk and cultures...no chemicals, colourants, stabalisers or any other additives. Their natural, full-bodied flavours develop from setting nature to work as was the tradition in days of old.
GRAIN FREE
ADDITIVE FREE
REGENERATIVE farming practices
FARMSTEAD cheeses made "FROM OUR PASTURES TO YOUR PLATE"
The no grain, pasture only diet of our cows imparts a delicious natural sweetness to our products as well as maintaining the nutritional balance of heart-healthy fats and antioxidants.
You are invited to amble out to Preston Farm to sample the delectable handmade cheeses of La Petite France.
Otherwise find them and the other natural, additive free dairy products in our range (double thick Jersey cream, yoghurt and butter to name a few) in selected stores in major centres countrywide. Find out under the Farm section what makes them so special.
La Petite France Camembert is a soft, smooth and creamy cheese with an edible rind. As Camembert matures it gains the deep, rich, almost earthy flavour that is evocative of those traditionally made and enjoyed in France where the paste becomes 'runny'. The flavours intensify with age. Camembert is very versatile and can be served both hot (melted) and cold, sweet and savoury and paired with almost anything!
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La Petite France Camembert is available in rounds of between 250g to 310g and also as Petite (mini) Camembert of between 125 and 165g – ideal of one person to savour!
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The La Petite France Brie is a firm, creamy cheese with a snowy, white, edible rind. It has a rich flavour with a hint of mushroom and is usually milder than the Camembert with a longer maturing period because it has higher paste to rind ratio. As with Camembert, Brie is a very versatile cheese and can be served used both hot (melted) and cold, sweet and savoury and paired with almost anything!
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La Petite France Brie is available in 4 sizes. The Grand Brie has a diameter of about 20cm and weighs between 1.7kg to 2.1kg. The more popular rounds are about 10cm in diameter and weigh between 325g and 380. The Jumbo Brie is over 380g in weight and the popular Petite Brie weighs between125g and 170g.
This multiple award winning Camembert has a dusting of activated charcoal on the rind. This creates a visually striking black and white contrast and gives it a unique texture and flavour that will enhance any cheese board!
The Brie Cremeux is similar to Cambrini. It has a more creamy flavour and firmer texture than the Brie.
La Petite France Tilsiter is a semi-hard Swiss-style cheese. It is less salted and the curd is not pressed as in cheddar-making but rather stirred. This exquisite cheese has a rich
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Tilsiter is round and wrapped in black wax. It weighs about 3.5kgs and is approximately 22cm in diameter and 10cm deep. It is often used as the base for a cheese wedding cake.
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Rich, creamy and smooth. Do not be fooled by its initial mellowness. Allow the complex smoky, nutty flavour to build on the palate and you will be asking for more. Served with figs or port this is an ideal after-dinner cheese but will also add zest to any soup or sauce for vegetables or meat or fish.
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Hilton Blue has its own edible rind and is generally 18cm in diameter and 10cm deep. It is often used as a tier in a cheese wedding cake.
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This is a versatile, mild, creamy but full flavoured Feta preserved in olive oil.
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La Petite France Feta is made with cow’s milk which gives it its wonderful yellow hue. It is a versatile, mild but full flavoured cheese preserved in olive oil which makes it a perfect addition to a summer salad or chopped over a pasta dish or simply added to a cheese board. It is presented in 10cm diameter rounds and comes in plain or flavoured with black pepper and sundried tomato and oreganum.
The tang of tomatoes with a combination of oreganum enriches this tasty Feta. With a little salt and time spent marinating in olive oil, this cheese has a Mediterranean flavour and children in particular love it and often describe it as “pizza cheese”.
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La Petite France Feta is made with cow’s milk which gives it its wonderful yellow hue. It is a versatile, mild but full flavoured cheese preserved in olive oil which makes it a perfect addition to a summer salad or chopped over a pasta dish or simply added to a cheese board. It is presented in 10cm diameter rounds and comes in plain or flavoured with black pepper and sundried tomato and oreganum.
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A smooth Feta that has the spicy pepper finish complimenting its natural, creamy flavour. This cheese is also preserved in olive oil.
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La Petite France Feta is made with cow’s milk which gives it its wonderful yellow hue. It is a versatile, mild but full flavoured cheese preserved in olive oil which makes it a perfect addition to a summer salad or chopped over a pasta dish or simply added to a cheese board. It is presented in 10cm diameter rounds and comes in plain or flavoured with black pepper and sundried tomato and oreganum.
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La Petite France’s Parmesan is made with half-fat cow’s milk and is a yellow, hard cheese with a natural rind. Its great nutty, fruity flavour will compliment any pasta or vegetable dish whether finely grated or thinly shaved.
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A great frying, grilling or braaiing cheese with a light mint flavour throughout the cheese
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La Petite France Halloumi is a great frying, grilling or braaiing cheese and comes in 10cm diameter rounds making it an ideal meat replacement. It can also be served hot with a summer salad or winter vegetable bake. The Halloumi comes in plain, mint and chilli and garlic flavours.
This is a great frying, grilling or braaiing cheese with a lovely light bite from the chilli and sweet garlic note.
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La Petite France Halloumi is a great frying, grilling or braaiing cheese and comes in 10cm diameter rounds making it an ideal meat replacement. It can also be served hot with a summer salad or winter vegetable bake. The Halloumi comes in plain, mint and chilli and garlic flavours.
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Simple, natural, mild in flavour it is delicious used in salads or in a hamburger.
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La Petite France Halloumi is a great frying, grilling or braaiing cheese and comes in 10cm diameter rounds making it an ideal meat replacement. It can also be served hot with a summer salad or winter vegetable bake. The Halloumi comes in plain, mint and chilli and garlic flavours.
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The La Petite France full fat and low fat strained yogurt is totally natural. It is made simply with pasture-fed cow’s milk and probiotic cultures. The yogurt has no added preservatives
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additives or stabilisers offering all the very best and well-known health benefits of a totally natural product. It is creamy thick and luscious on its own or with any number of added flavours. The yogurts are available in 1 litre or 500ml tubs.
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La Petite France cream is an experience. Decadent and natural it is a beautiful, rich, thick product reminiscent of Devonshire clotted cream (only not heated). It is best appreciated served with a scone or cake or desert but will enhance any savoury dish too. The cream is available in 500ml and 250ml tubs.
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Our condensed milk is reminiscent of the South American Dolce de Leche which is a slowly heated sweetened milk. Ours is made by slowly heating our sweetened full cream jersey milk to make this decadent caramely condensed milk. Have it in your coffee or on ice cream. Yum.
By adding extra cream to the full fat Jersey milk, our cream cheese is sweet and rich.
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La Petite France’s farm butter is the real thing! Rich, yellow and salted, with no additives or preservatives. The butter is available in 500g blocks or in tubs of 500ml. For bulk quantities please contact the office.
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La Petite France cottage cheese is a chunky fresh cheese with a light salty flavour available in a 250ml tub.
La Petite
CAFÉ AND SHOP
Operating from the same barn venue as the Karkloof Farmers Market.
OPENING TIMES: Wednesday to Friday: 0800 to 16h00, Saturday: 0700 to 14h00.
Sundays and public holidays: 09h00 to 15h00
BRING YOU OWN: We do not hold a liquor license but visitors are welcome to bring their own beer and wine
NO DOGS: The farm has its own resident dogs so we are unable to allow visiting dogs on the property.
PAYMENT: Payment can be made with Zapper, Credit Card or cash.
THE Farm Stall: We stock all the La Petite France cheeses and fresh-line products such as yogurt, butter, cream and cottage cheese. We also stock a selection of locally made products.
THE CAFÉ: The cafe is situated in our barn which is also the venue for the Karkloof Farmer's Market. A visit to the café will allow you to soak up the ambiance of the working dairy farm while enjoying a delicious, light, cheesy meal or a simply excellent cup of coffee and one of our homemade scones with our double thick cream.
GROUP BOOKINGS: We welcome large groups and are able to be flexible with our seating and catering arrangements.
CONTACT DETAILS: Cafe and shop mobile phone: 0631506099
Email: café@lapetitefrance.co.za
Address: The Barn, Preston Farm, 9 Karkloof Road (6 km’s from Howick, Karkloof Farmer's Market)
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YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED:
We are GMO free
We are grain free
We are additive free which means ONLY milk and cultures
Grassmilk has health benefits being richer in heart healthy fats and antioxidants.
Higher CLA (5 times),omega 3 (2 times), selenium, vit E, beta carotine,iron
We have our own dairy
SUSTAINABLE AS POSSIBLE:
Calf bedding, slurry and wash water is composted
No cropping so no spraying of pesticides etc
Minimal cultivation and tractor operations
Use of perennial pastures for grazing
Rainwater harvesting
Use of wash water for pasture fertilisation
Minimal vet intervention on cows
No intervention to increase production (eg hormones etc)
Cows rest for 2 months before eligebility for pregnancy
Cows have 2 months maternity rest before calving
Use of A2 Jersey by AI which is more gentle than a bull
Preston Farm is at 9 Karkloof Road, Howick, 3290 (6km from Supaquick)
S 29.43362°
E 30.24694°
La Petite France Cheese is supplied nationwide, to various outlets as well as wholesale distributors. Contact us today to find out where your nearest distributor is located.
