Located in the tiny village of Kékkút, the fabulous farm of the Keszthelyi family awaits visitors with lavender, a romantic veranda, a comfortable camping space, a lovely little calf, a lot of fresh, homemade delicacies and a lot of love. Drop by if you need to refill your cordial supplies or if you feel like wandering the lavender fields or learning how to make cheese and butter.
Levendula Porta, which produces and sells delicious homemade cordials, jams, jellies and diary products, is tucked away in the northwestern corner of the Káli Basin, on the one and only street called Fő utca of the tiny, Mediterranean style village of Kékkút.
With a community of about 80 residents, the little township is surrounded by Salföld, Káptalantóti, Kővágóörs and Mindszentkálla.
Four years ago Eníd Keszthelyi and her husband Tibor decided to spend the whole year here, endeavouring to grow the ingredients for their tasty homemade treats themselves. The flavour of the lavender cordial is so intense that you feel like sipping on freshly picked lavender in liquid form.
Apart from the steaming technique, Eníd also uses lemon and citric acid to make her products keep longer. The secret recipe of the cordial remains a mystery, so we don’t know if this is what gives the drinks such exquisite taste or if it’s all down to the secret ingredients of the Káli Basin. At least we have the end result to enjoy.
Eníd and Tibor currently have more than two thousand original Tihany lavender plants in their garden, along with green walnut, rosemary, rose, currant, ginger, mint and even pine buds.
Everything is self-grown and prepared by the couple themselves. They always work with seasonal produce, fresh from the fields.
There is a wide selection of cordials, jams and jellies, but they also make cheeses, yoghurt and raw milk. The various cheese sorts made by Tibor include fresh, 1-week-old cheeses, harder, more mature kinds as well as grilling cheeses – all of them a prepared in the small kitchen under the house where the temperature is just right.
Check out up close how the culinary delights are made through thematic programmes such as “Cheese yourself” or “Butter, the best of the porta”. If you are less domestically inclined, the “Lavender walk” is the best option for you – a guided tour of the lavender fields and product tasting are included in the price.
If you are not quite ready to say goodbye to this cosy farm, pitch your tent on the campsite near the house and the barn.
The Kornyi-tó is only a short walk or bike ride away, but Káli-Kapocs, the newest and trendiest pub in the area, is also around the corner, especially if you head down the country road just outside the village.
