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A general process
of how Rooibos Herbal Tea is Grown and Made |
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1) Aspalathus Linearis, the plant which is
commonly known as Rooibos is only found in the beautiful
Cederberg area of the Cape in South Africa, where the climate is ideal
to grow this unique tea. |
 2) The Rooibos tea plant is hard seeded by nature and the seeds are scarified to increase their germinating potential before being sowed. |
 3) During February to March, the tiny seeds are sowed in well-prepared seedbeds. Between June and July, the plants, which have by then reached a height of 10-15cm, are planted out into plantations in well spaced rows. They are then well tended on a regular basis. The seeds can also be sowed directly into the plantations, in the same manner. |
 4) The producer can harvest his first Rooibos tea after one and a half years, and thereafter the plant is harvested every year by cutting off the branches 35cm above the ground. The tea cuttings are neatly bound into sheaves and transported to the process yards. |
 5) The sheaves are then cut by a cutting machine to 5mm. This ensures that the finished product looks tidy and can be neatly packed into tea bags. |
 6)The tea cuttings are then transported by conveyor belt to the bruiser, where they are bruised between two rollers. This rolling process ensures that the important chemical reaction which develops the characteristic colour and flavour of the tea can take place. |
 7) After watering and airing, the tea is left to "sweat" in heaps. During this time the tea obtains its typical reddish brown colour and develops its sweet flavour. |
 8) After the sweating process has been completed, it is spread out on a large drying yard to dry in the sun. |
 9) When dry, the tea is sucked up by special machines. |
 10) After drying, the finished product is delivered to the Rooibos Tea board, where the tea is sorted and graded into varying quality grades, according to cutting length, colour, flavour and taste. |
 11) After sifting, the tea is purified by steam pasteurization, after which it is again dried over a hot air bed dryer. |
 12) Quality and bacteriological control is maintained throughout. |
 13) The dried tea is weighed by automatic scales and packaged in large polypropylene bags 35kg each. |
 14) The packers but in this form from the Rooibos Tea Board. |
15) Our supplier packs 2.5g of tea into teabags, and seals 20 tea bags into a foil pouch for freshness. These are then placed into shipping cartons and shipped to us in Canada. We then use a local packing company to produce and pack the pouches into their retail boxes ready for you, the consumer, to enjoy. |
