From its humble origins in the rugged Cederberg region of the Western Cape, the Rooibos industry has charted phenomenal growth, accumulating along the way a history as colourful as the land from which it comes.

What began as little more than a cottage industry around the turn of the century has evolved in strength and efficiency into the fully privatised company that processes and markets Rooibos worldwide. As a result of the Rooibos market collapsing after the Second World War, the producers established the Clanwilliam Tea Cooperative in 1948.

At the request of the Cooperative, the Minister of Agriculture appointed the Rooibos Tea Control Board in 1954, with the defined goals of regulating marketing, stabilising prices, and improving and standardising quality.

A new era began for the Rooibos Industry, as the Board's leadership guided the industry in its first definite steps towards real stability and prosperity. Since that time, the industry has made steady progress, refining its production methods and increasing distribution so that the unique goodness of Rooibos can be enjoyed by people the world over.

The vision of Rooibos Limited is to establish Rooibos internationally as a worldwide winner.

The goal-directed enhancement of the production, processing and international marketing of unique Rooibos products and services for the benefit of all supportive stakeholders, with special reference to:

Satisfying consumers' expectations.Facilitating realistic returns on shareholders' investment.Honouring commitments made to producers, suppliers and buyers.Creating a pleasant working environment for the motivation of dedicated employees.Contributing to the development of South Africa's economy and its people.

Why Rooibos Limited is the preferred supplier around the world:Well-established – the company has been a reputable supplier since 1954.Market leaders – 70% international market share.Contracted farmer base of more than 200 farms.Consistently best quality – ensured by its large volume base and unique blending system.Guarateed supply – based on its inventory reserve scheme.On-time delivery – ensured by short production lead times and reliable warehousing facilities.Extensive product range – designed to meet customers' specific needs.Ongoing research, product development and innovative techniques make it an industry leader.The factory is HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) certified.Rooibos Limited can supply the following certified products: Kosher, Halaal, Ecocert, NOP and JAS.A one-stop shop that provides an extensive product range to meet specific customer needs. Besides Rooibos, the range includes Honeybush, Buchu and other uniquely African plants. Available in bulk, teabags, pouches, instants or as a liquid extract. Cosmetics and toiletries using Rooibos as a base are also available. Most products can be supplied in both conventional and organic form.Wide scope of services including blending, flavouring, contract packaging, private label, extraction, contract bottling of RTDs and bulk packaging.Contributing to the development of South Africa's economy and population.Proudly South African – Rooibos Limited is a Proudly South African company.All the above-mentioned ensures the company's expertise.

The story of Rooibos is a unique and extremely interesting one - a story that started at the turn of the last century in the Cedarberg region of the Western Cape. It was the locals of the area who first discovered that the fine, needle-like leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant made a tasty, aromatic tea.

It was they who first harvested the wild-growing plants, chopped them with axes and then bruised them with hammers, leaving them to ferment in heaps, before drying them in the sun. Today Rooibos is still processed in much the same way, but of course the methods are more mechanised and refined.

n 1904, Benjamin Ginsberg, a Russian immigrant and pioneer in the area, became interested in Rooibos and realised its marketing potential. He started trading it from the people of the mountains. No doubt the fact that Ginsberg was descended from a family who had been in the tea industry in Europe for centuries, provided him with a good background and the necessary experience to market this new Mountain tea.

The Aspalathus plant group, part of the legume family, and to which Rooibos belongs, consists of more than 200 species which occur only in South Africa and of which only the species Aspalathus linearis has any economic value. Had it not been for the mountain inhabitants of the Western Cape, this species would today have been known merely as one of the many indigenous shrub-like bushes found in these mountains.

The plant is a shrub-like bush with a central, smooth-barked main stem. Near the soil surface the stem subdivides into a number of strong offshoots, followed by delicate side branches each bearing, singly or in clusters, soft, needle-like leaves some ten centimetres in length.

The plants height at maturity varies from one to 1,5 metres in its natural state, while the height of harvested plants varies from 0,5 to 1,5 metres, depending on the age of the plant, or the climate and soil conditions in the area of production.

Although the plant requires a production area with winter rainfall, its active growth only starts in spring, increasing towards midsummer after which growth declines. The plant is usually covered with small, yellow, pea-shaped flowers during October. The flowers each produce a small legume containing a single, very small, light yellow, hard-shelled, dicotyledonous seed.

The Rooibos plant has adapted well to the harsh conditions of the Cedarberg region, where temperatures drop to zero degrees centigrade during the winter months and rise to a blistering 48 degrees centigrade at the height of summer.

The winter rains vary between as little as 180 mm to 500mm for the year. No irrigation is used and the rooibos plant is often subjected to severe drought conditions. The survival mechanism of this hardy bush is its tap root that digs down 3 m or more into the well-drained, cool, sandy soil that has a high acidity level.

Rooibos is a unique product from a unique area. South Africa's Western Cape is home to a vast number of plant species, which thrive only in 'micro climates', of which the beautiful Cedarberg mountain area is one. It is only here that Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) grows in its natural state, in an area of Mediterranean rainfall and coarse sandy soil.

Everywhere against the mountain slopes in valleys and on top of plateaux or plains, there are open, arable fields, where Rooibos is grown at a varying altitude of approximately 450 m above sea level.

It's only natural that a beverage of such individuality should come from a place of such individual beauty. 200km north of Cape Town, the Cedarberg Mountain region is a wilderness of craggy peaks, clean air and pure mountain streams which nourish the slopes on which Rooibos is grown.

Discovering the Cedarberg on foot is a wonderful experience for the energetic, who can make use of a large network of hiking trails and mountain huts. Among the treasures awaiting discovery are bizarre rock formations like Wolfberg Arch and Maltese Cross, well-preserved examples of prehistoric rock paintings by the early San people, and the rare Clanwilliam cedars which give the area its name. The extremely lucky may even catch a glimpse of one of the wild leopards which roam the peaks.

For those preferring to explore the area from the comfort of their vehicle, the Cedarberg boasts extensive road systems through the scenic valley passes of the area, connecting atmospheric hamlets such as Clanwilliam, Citrusdal and Wupperthal.

A visit to the Cedarberg provides a restful, back-to-nature break in any season, but it is undoubtedly spring which is the high point for many. During spring, following the winter rains, botanists, photographers, and travellers converge on this area to witness one of the world's great floral spectacles. For a few short weeks, the entire region is transformed as wild flowers in their millions carpet the earth with brilliant colour. A unique sight and a truly original African welcome to the Cedarberg Region - Rooibos Country.

Nutritionists recommend that daily meal choices be selected from the three basic food groups:

Protein - for body building.
Bread and cereals - for energy.
Fruits and vegetables - to protect the body.

These form the basis of a balanced diet, which should be supplemented by the intake of sufficient fluids - at least 6-8 glasses per day.
Naturally caffeine-free Rooibos is the perfect beverage for everyday consumption, and can be enjoyed in unlimited quantities. It is also low in tannin, a substance which affects the body's metabolism by interfering with its ability to absorb iron and protein.
In addition, its high content of minerals and polyphenols helps to maintain healthy skin, teeth and bones, and metabolic processes. Rooibos is the ideal choice for people of all ages and from every walk of life.

Rooibos is completely pure and natural as it contains no additives, preservatives or colourants.Rooibos is naturally caffeine free.Rooibos contains powerful antioxidants that fight free radicals (a by-product of normal cell function), which weaken the body's natural defences and lead to ageing, the declining of the immune system and the onset of a wide variety of diseases.Rooibos can be strongly recommended for people suffering with irritability, headaches, disturbed sleeping patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension, as it contains no caffeine and has a soothing effect on the central nervous system.

Rooibos has a soothing effect on babies suffering from colic, stomach cramps and restlessness. It also helps with nappy rash, relieving irritation when applied with every nappy change.

Rooibos supplements the daily intake of calcium, manganese and fluoride needed by growing children for strong teeth and bones. Mothers can also profit from drinking Rooibos. During pregnancy and breast feeding, the natural iron levels become depleted.

Rooibos is low in tannin and does not have a negative effect on the absorption of iron. The lack of caffeine means a pregnant woman can drink Rooibos throughout the day without worsening some of pregnancy's biggest discomforts - nausea, heartburn and insomnia.

Preparing a perfect cup of Rooibos couldn't be simpler. Make it in an ordinary teapot. Rinse the teapot with boiling water to warm it. Add Rooibos teabags or loose leaves, one bag or one heaped teaspoon per cup.

Pour boiling water into the pot, replace the lid and keep warm. (If using a stove-top teapot, place it on a low heat to allow the flavour to develop.) Leave to infuse for 2-3 minutes, then pour yourself a cup, sit back and enjoy!

If Rooibos is steeped for 5-10 minutes, its antioxidant activity increases significantly.

Rooibos can also be prepared in a microwave oven. For a single cup, place a Rooibos teabag in a cup of cold water and microwave at maximum power for 2 minutes. (Use a glass teapot and the quantities advised above for larger amounts.)

Rooibos is delicious with hot or cold milk, with lemon or simply on its own. It can be sweetened with sugar or honey but, as it is less astringent and bitter than regular tea, it needs less sweetener. Note also that Rooibos can be reheated without losing any flavour or becoming bitter.

Rooibos is a truly remarkable and versatile plant. It’s uses extend far beyond the kitchen, and into everyday life.

Take a look at these recipes to see just how versatile Rooibos can be in the kitchen. Simply select a category and then select a recipe from the menu.

Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Cocktails
Hot Drinks
Starters
Main Courses
Desserts
Cakes
Preserves

What is Rooibos?

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is a tinsane or infusion unique to the Western Cape of South Africa, where it has been used since the 19th Century for medicinal purposes. Rooibos is naturally caffeine free and contains no additives, preservatives, colourings or oxalic acid.

Rooibos has a number of impressive health credentials:

Low in Tannins

Unlike many teas, Rooibos is naturally low in harmful tannins. Tannins can interfere with iron absorption, particularly in populations of individuals with marginal iron status. These include infants and toddlers, teenage girls, pre-menopausal women, elderly men and vegetarians. People in these categories are advised to allow at least one hour to elapse between the end of a meal and consumption of black or ordinary tea. Such advice is not necessary if Rooibos tea is the drink of choice.

Source of antioxidants

Rooibos tea contains naturally occurring antioxidants, a group of vitamins, minerals and plant substances or photochemicals which help protect the body against free radicals. Damage to cells by free radicals is thought to be partly to blame for chronic diseases such as cancer, heart diseases and ageing. It is the naturally occurring antioxidants in Rooibos tea that are beginning to excite scientists and health professionals around the world, with research being undertaken to identify the particular health benefits of the tea.

To date no adverse effects of drinking Rooibos tea have been reported. (Ref: McKay DL, Blumberg JB. 2007. A Review of the Bioactivity of South African Herbal Teas: Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and Honeybush (Cyclopia intermedia). Phytother. Res. 21. 1 – 16.)

Caffeine free

Rooibos tea is naturally caffeine free and therefore does not need to undergo extensive processing. Traditionally, leaves from the Rooibos bushes were harvested and then crushed using primitive tools and left in heaps to ferment before drying in the sun. Today, plants are cultivated and the production process has been refined without losing the unique process and heritage to guarantee the best quality in every cup.

Health professionals in South Africa suggest Rooibos tea for people suffering with irritability, headaches, disturbed sleep patterns, insomnia, nervous tension, mild depression or hypertension because it is caffeine free and appears to have a soothing effect on the central nervous system.

Healthier lifestyles

Rooibos is calorie free, and is therefore suitable to recommend to anyone on a weight loss plan. It has a naturally sweeter taste than other teas and is therefore an easier substitute than many herbal options.

Rooibos tea also contains nine minerals and trace minerals, including calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, sodium, copper, manganese and fluoride.

Ten top tips to keep hydrated

It is generally agreed that healthy adults in temperate climates need between 2 and 3 litres of fluid every day (approximately equal to the amount lost every day)Unlike fat and carbohydrate, excess water cannot be stored for use at a later dateA regular fluid intake is needed to keep the body well hydrated and all bodily functions dependent on water operating wellAbout 1 litre of water comes from what we eat and the majority of the remaining 1 – 2 litres from what we drinkOn hot or humid days more fluid is lost from the body so more fluid must be drunk to replace itExposure to central heating for long periods will also increase fluid losses which must be replacedPhysical activity, particularly in warm/hot/humid conditions, increases sweat loss. Losses must be replace often during and particularly after activity finishesThirst is not a reliable indicator of hydration. The sensation is only experienced when the body is already quite dehydratedAs a general rule of thumb, urination every 2 – 4 hours is a better sign that sufficient fluids are being consumed. As dehydration develops, urine colour darkens, and volume and frequency of urinating both decreaseA variety of drinks should be enjoyed every day – Rooibos tea is a great tasting alternative to black teas.

About Jane Griffin

Jane Griffin is one of the most respected sports dietitians in the UK. She qualified from London University with a degree in Nutrition and a Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics. Since 1982 she has specialised more and more in Sports Nutrition and Dietetics and became one of the first Accredited Sports Dietitian in the country. As the Consultant Nutritionist to the British Olympic Association from 1990 to 2001 she worked with a wide range of Olympic sports including archery, badminton, rowing and canoeing. She is currently the Sports Dietitian to London Irish RFC (having previously worked with NEC Harlequins for three seasons), London Irish, London Wasps and NEC Harlequins England Rugby Academies, the Rugby Football League and the English Ladies Golf Association.