Reasons for use of Rooibos

• South Africa is the only cultivator of commercial rooibos tea in the world
• Rooibos is cultivated extensively in the Cederberg area and is one of only a handful of plants that has successfully made the transition from a natural resource to a cultivated crop
• The popularity of rooibos extends beyond South Africa, with rooibos products exported to more than 135 countries worldwide
• The Khoi made tea from the rooibos plant 300 years ago and were aware of its medicinal value
• In 1772, the botanist Carl Humberg was the first person to report of the value of rooibos
• Commercial exploitation began in 1904 with a Russian immigrant, Benjamin Ginsberg, who saw the commercial potential of rooibos. Ginsberg's family were well established in the tea industry and he had the necessary expertise to market rooibos
• As cultivation methods developed over the years, production increased to result in the lucrative industry that it is today
• Rooibos tea is an aromatic, caffeine-free drink with health benefits.
• It is particularly popular with health conscious people because it:

  • is caffeine free
  • contains no preservatives
  • contains no colorants
  • contains little tanin
  • rich in anti-oxidants, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium and sodium
• An anti-oxidant is any substance that binds with harmful free radicals, which cause cancer and other diseases, and renders them harmless
• Other medicinal uses include:

  • anti-allergenic
  • calming effect
  • relieves digestive problems
  • relieves colic in babies
  • ingredient in beaty products