A selection from Cape Town
This rooibos comes from a very old family farm located in the village of Klipsteen, a few hours from Cape Town, renowned throughout the region for the exceptional quality of its organic crops. For several generations, a family we have known for many years has cultivated rooibos there with patience and expertise, on preserved land, swept by dry desert winds and nourished by the African sun. It was there that we discovered this rare batch, with a particularly sweet and nuanced profile, which we have chosen to include in our collection as a benchmark rooibos.
Did you know?
The word rooibos literally means "red bush" in Afrikaans, referring to the coppery hue its leaves take on after fermentation. Although it is sometimes referred to as "red tea," this term is a misnomer: rooibos does not come from the tea plant (Camellia sinensis), but from a very distinct shrub, named Aspalathus linearis, belonging to the legume family. It grows only in South Africa, in the semi-desert region of Cederberg, over an area as vast as Corsica. Its cultivation, still largely artisanal, is the fruit of the work of more than 500 producers, who perpetuate ancestral know-how.
One field, two crops
In the Cederberg region, rooibos sometimes shares its soil with another iconic crop: wheat. On some plots, producers alternate plantings according to the seasons, or allow both crops to coexist in the same field. This association, which may seem surprising, actually contributes to soil balance and the natural regeneration of the land. It reflects a living agriculture, respectful of the rhythm of plants and available resources, a philosophy that fully corresponds to the spirit of the organic rooibos we have chosen.
