Origin

Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is endemic to the Cederberg Mountains in South Africa’s Western Cape, where the shrub’s needle-like leaves have been brewed as a drink for centuries by the indigenous peoples of the region. Rooibos is now a popular herbal tea worldwide, distinctly red in colour with a flavour described as smooth with a natural, subtle sweetness and slight nutty undertones. Extracts are used in the beverage, food, nutraceutical and cosmetic markets while several studies are currently exploring medical applications.

A. linearis is cultivated only in the southwestern Cape, where it is adapted to the region’s climate and sandy, acidic soils. Skimmelberg has, over several generations, perfected the art of cultivating this indigenous shrub. They both produce and process rooibos and are now able to provide a market for neighboring growers. Because the fermentation of rooibos happens in the open air, harvesting and processing usually occurs during very hot conditions in January or February.