African Business Profile: Cape Natural Tea Products (Pty) Ltd

Business Type: Grower, processor, marketer/exporter
Location: Bellville, South Africa
Business Established: 1997
Number of Employees: 11 full-time
Grower Locations: S. Africa (Cedarberg and Langkloof regions)
Main Markets: S. Africa, Japan, Germany, Holland, and USA
Best-Selling Herbs: Rooibos and honeybush teas Other Products: Hibiscus, devil's claw, rosehips, lemon grass, and rosehip seed oil
Immediate Goals: To expand their product range, particularly in the US
Contact: Dawie de Villiers, M.D, Managing Director, or Henrietta Souter, Marketing Manager, at capenat@new.co.za
Web Page: www.rooibostea.co.za

In the past few decades, the national beverage of South Africa - rooibos tea - has become an increasingly popular international beverage as well. Currently, some of the most flavorful rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) on the market comes from Cape Natural Tea Products, a South African company that is striving to be "the most trusted and dynamic source of quality herbs on the African continent." After just three years in business, Cape Natural Tea Products seems to be achieving its ambitious goal. Recently, its FlavourBurst™ rooibos tea was rated as the best in the industry, due to a proprietary cutting process that maximizes the extraction of flavors from the leaf. This innovative company has also succeeded in producing an exceptional cup of honeybush tea (Cyclopia spp.), selecting only the most flavorful Honey Blossom™ and Sweet Leaf™ varieties from more than 23 species that grow wild in the Western and Eastern Cape. They have also perfected cutting and fermentation processes that further enhance the tea's flavor. Cape Natural Tea Product's rooibos and honeybush can be ordered in bulk or attractive retail packaging, and the rooibos is available in natural, lemon, or peach and vanilla flavors.

Cape Natural Tea Products' largest market for rooibos is Japan, where much of the scientific research on the plant has been conducted. Studies show that it is a rich source of antioxidant compounds that may play a role in protecting against many health conditions. Unlike black tea, coffee, and even green tea, rooibos is also naturally caffeine-free, low in tannins, and a supplementary source of minerals and vitamin C. The tea's antispasmodic properties explain its traditional use for digestive ailments such as infant colic and heartburn. In Japan, the extract is also a common ingredient in pharmaceutical products, skin creams, and cosmetics. Although research on honeybush is still preliminary, researchers believe it may offer many of the same antioxidant benefits as rooibos. Both plants belong to the legume (Fabaceae) family and share similar traditional uses.

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The Herb Research Foundation is pleased to present the sixth issue of A-SNAPP Update, an online newsletter for African growers and producers, A-SNAPP partners, international buyers, and others interested in the A-SNAPP project. We need your input to make A-SNAPP Update a success! In particular, we are seeking stories on individual African farms and businesses, traditional African medicine, protection of endangered African plants, and other issues important to you and your business. If you would like to be profiled as a featured business in A-SNAPP Update or have an idea for a story, please contact Krista Morien at kmorien@herbs.org.