Where Does Rooibos Tea Come From?
Grown exclusively in the Western Cape province of South Africa, in a small, mountainous region known as Cederberg, Rooibos is a broom-like plant that survives by growing its taproot up to 3m down in the soil! And as a result, it produces needle-like leaves and yellow flowers that have been used by native Africans for centuries. Thanks to the specific climate, where temperatures range from sub-zero in the winter and to over 40°C in the summer, this mountainous plant thrives and creates the perfect ingredient for that all-important cuppa.
Rooibos tea really found its roots in tea from 1902 and into the twentieth century and is now consumed by over 37 countries worldwide, making it a pretty big deal in the local South African economy and culture. The leaves are green when picked, and after they are chopped and bruised, they’re left out to dry naturally in the sun – during which time they turn red. And whilst you might be mistaken for thinking it’s the redbush that makes it red, it’s actually the fermenting process that turns this tasty tea into its heavenly crimson shade. As with other teas, Rooibos leaves undergo an oxidizing process which produces its distinctive reddish-brown colour (which is why it has so many “Red” nicknames) and enhances its nutty, smoky flavour.
