Aspalathus linearis plantation

Farming of rooibos tea is a big item in a part of the northwest of the Western Cape, both commercially and among emerging farmers from previously disadvantaged communities. The region includes the Cederberg, the Gifberg, Nieuwoudtville and more. There are rooibos production and packaging, as well as farmers’ co-operative facilities in existence in the region.

Farming methods and business design, starting from a traditional base are increasingly focussed on sustainability criteria in both the agricultural, social and commercial domains. Priorities include environmentally sustainable and socially mindful practices with particular attention to the welfare of labour, soil health, farming methods, innovation, product quality and biodiversity in the region. Some of the operations are organic, not all.

The leaves are collected, put through a threshing machine before packing and moving forward in the chain that ends in the consumer’s cup in many parts of the world.

Protection of rooibos as an essentially South African product and international expansion of the industry both feature in developments of recent times. The World Trade Organisation has a concept, geographical indication, for establishing a product identity specifying origin, quality, reputation and other characteristics. These and other factors are being attended to with relation to facilitation and regulation of the rooibos industry, involving many parties, local and international (https://mg.co.za).