Curl up with 'Appels en Tee': a must-watch family drama full of heart

When you watch a series and it feels like sunlight after a day of swimming in cold water, that nostalgic hug that warms you from the inside out, you know you’re in for a journey.

That was exactly how I felt at the exclusive screening of KykNET’s "Appels en Tee" at Welgemeend in Cape Town.

Table Mountain literally peeking over the venue made the whole setting feel like a teaser for what we were about to see on screen - green, sunlit, and quietly comforting.

And as I sipped my tea (because, of course), I couldn’t help but notice how perfectly the venue mirrored Hoekville, the small-town backdrop of the show in Knysna, a breath of fresh air, literally and figuratively.

Knysna hasn’t been used much for scripted series. Reality shows, sure, but this? Not so much. And that’s what makes "Appels en Tee" so refreshing. It’s a family drama rooted in real South African scenery, where the roads are familiar, the hills green, and the rhythm of daily life feels instantly recognisable.

It’s homely in the best possible way. Even from the first scene, a basket of apples sitting casually on a kitchen counter, you sense the balance of innocence and comfort that the title promises.

Apples, young and bright; tea, a slow, healing presence that makes the whole story feel like a cup of warm chamomile for your soul.

The first two episodes I saw were just enough to feel the heartbeat of this story without spoiling anything. The show spans two timelines, the 1990s and today, which gives it that satisfying depth. And I love a good flashback.

You get glimpses of how choices ripple across generations, how childhood innocence transforms, and how small towns hold onto secrets in ways that feel intimate and real.

Every glance, every fleeting expression tells you something about a character’s life, their pride, their struggles, the secrets they quietly carry.

And through it all, the show highlights contrasts in lifestyle: one family member thriving in a bustling business, another scraping together the evening meal which is entirely human.

The cast makes Hoekville feel instantly real. Diaan Lawrenson is warm and grounded as Lisa Rossouw, while Tinarie van Wyk-Loots shines as Henriëtte de Klerk, full of charm and quiet complexity.

Ivan Zimmermann and Neels van Jaarsveld bring depth to their roles as Dawid and Wessel, and Jacques Erasmus as Francois adds that youthful spark. Supporting players like Rika Sennett, Ian Roberts, Hendrik Cronjé, and Moses Williams make the town feel lived-in, messy, funny, and utterly homely.

There’s humour too, quiet, relatable moments that make you giggle because they feel familiar.

Every small town has its quirks: the old man honking at no one in particular, the mechanic who convinces you your car is on its last legs and somehow talks you into buying more parts, and, of course, those chaotic family breakfasts where love and arguments mix like sugar and tea.

Characters like these make the series feel lived-in, authentic, and deeply homely. Maybe that’s why we love them, because they remind us of our own streets, our own families, our own awkward, endearing routines.

Each character has layers you don’t need an exposé to notice, a shrug, a smirk, a sidelong glance conveys more than dialogue ever could. You can feel the weight of their relationships, the complexity of their choices, and even the small joys they cling to. 

You get the subtle thrill of unexpected encounters, the kind that make you lean forward a little, knowing that long-lost friends or family members, secrets, and surprises are waiting just around the corner.

The storytelling is honest, grounded, and full of heart, with just enough comedy to keep it real and relatable.

Sitting there watching, I couldn’t help but think, this is a show that will make viewers pause and feel - feel the way a cup of tea warms your hands, the way the sunlight catches the trees, or the way a simple laugh shared at the table can feel monumental.

♦ "Appels en Tee" premieres on KykNET ((DStv channel 144) on Tuesday, October 21, at 8pm.