Rooibos

Rooibos is a herbal tea grown only in South Africa, and is indiginous to the mountainous Cederberg area of the Western Cape, about 200km north of Cape Town. It is a dryland crop that needs a Mediterranean climate and deep, sandy, acidic soils. About 37 000ha are under cultivation.

The word rooibos means "Red bush". The tea is popular and ubiquitous in South Africa, and has a growing following among health-conscious consumers. Rooibos contains no caffeine, has very little tannin and is high in antioxidants.

Export

Rooibos exports were about 750 tons in the early 1990s and have now grown to about 5 000 tons. Sales in the US were hampered by the fact that a US Company, Forever Young, registered the word "rooibos" as a trademark in 1994. The company sold the registration to a lady based in Dallas, Texas, in 2001. In 2005 the lady gave up rights to the name in the face of litigation brought by Rooibos.

Rooibos

Rooibos is an unlisted company owned largely by farmers, and employs about 150 people in season and 100 people during the rest of the year (a significant number in an area with no industry).