Our Legacy
The story of diOxygin begins in the humble farming town of Patensie, Eastern Cape, a place filled with citrus groves and a deep sense of community. This is where our founder, Lindie Ferreira Cillié, grew up with her five siblings, learning about life, citrus, sacrifice, and above all, love. Her parents, Espie (SP) and Hilda Ferreira, were the heart of the family, their love always abundant.
They were, in so many ways, the oxygen of their community. Always ready with a helping hand, a kind word, and love to share with everyone they crossed paths with, they essentially breathed life into everything and everyone around them.
In 2021, the shadow of Covid-19 fell upon us all. Like many others, we felt its impact deeply with the loss of Espie and Hilda, taken just five days apart, on June 21st and 25th, due to a lack of oxygen.
Deeply loved, their legacy continues to resonate deeply, both locally and around the world. Inspired by their vibrant lives and love for their community, diOxygin was born. Infused with passion, our gin captures the essence of Espie, the devoted citrus farmer, and Hilda, whose life bloomed alongside the spekboom in her beautiful garden.
- Spekboom (Portulacaria Afra): Also known as Africa’s Tree of Wonder, this succulent acts as a carbon sponge, reducing our carbon footprint and fighting climate change by absorbing CO2 and generating life-giving oxygen. Thriving in its native South Africa, particularly the Eastern Cape, spekboom is incredibly easy to propagate – even the tiniest twig can be reborn into a new plant! Traditionally, its leaves have been used for their hydrating, antiseptic, and soothing properties, and as a natural source of vitamin C. But the spekboom holds another surprise: its leaves boast a pleasantly tart, citrusy flavour similar to lemon, adding a unique character to our gin.
- Queen Mandarins: These mandarins, bursting with sweetness and juiciness, are grown on our family farm in Patensie, Eastern Cape. More than just a delightful treat, they’re a nutritional powerhouse packed with Vitamin C, fibre, and antioxidants. Their vibrant citrus notes offer a balance of sweetness, refreshment and a touch of complexity, perfectly complementing the overall taste profile.
Signifying “two,”the “di”in diOxygin represents not only the key botanicals but also the cherished duo, Espie and Hilda, whose enduring legacy forms the very foundation of diOxygin. diOxygin, a female-led startup, aims to live out our vision of “life in abundance” by giving back to the community and raising awareness for important causes.
Our commitment to sustainability is evident in how we utilise pure ingredients. We only use a thin layer of the Queen Mandarin peels, donating the rest of the fruit to community homes in Port Elizabeth. Similarly, with spekboom, we aim to raise awareness about global warming and the amazing power this plant has in fighting it.
We encourage the public to plant their own spekboom and contribute to a greener planet. Additionally, a portion of our proceeds will go towards purchasing oxygen bottles for local old age homes. With this heartfelt story, we encourage you to savour each day, sharing laughter and creating memories with loved ones – that’s the true essence of living life abundantly.
Join us on this journey as we celebrate life, community, and a sustainable future.
“Doing this will be the best way to honour all those who lost their lives due to Covid-19, and drinking the diOxygin will be a constant reminder of that. We owe it to the next generation to successfully execute this vital mandate.”
Lindie Ferreira Cillié, Founder of diOxygin.
