Archive for category: Health Research

Honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy by sharing your next cup of Rooibos with someone you don’t know – a stranger, the homeless, a neighbour you haven’t met, the elderly or a new colleague at work. This Mandela Day (18 July), let us be more mindful of each other’s needs.

“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead.”

― Nelson Mandela

Few industries have been hit as hard by the pandemic as the travel and tourism sector, but fortuitously, it has given a fillip to tea tourism worldwide. Adele du Toit, spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council (SARC) says the pandemic turned everyone’s focus to healthier living, which has fuelled a resurgence in tea consumption and exploring the unique regions where tea or tisanes are produced.

Meet Jessica the Hippo – one of the world’s most famous animal stars. She’s played the lead in several National Geographic documentaries, appeared on the Discovery Channel, SKY news, BBC, Japanese, German and Australian telly and even made it onto the Oprah Winfrey Show. Annually, thousands of tourists flock to the 6 ha reserve in Hoedspruit, situated along the Blyde River to catch a glimpse of Jessica. Her favourite snack is homegrown Rooibos, and she eagerly gulps down 20 l a day

The two-year pandemic has led to major shifts in grocery buying patterns as the world became accustomed to spending more time at home. The changing dynamics has worked in favour of the tea industry, with food and beverage experts citing 2022 as the year when consumers will start to prioritise products that deliver functional benefits to improve personal health and well-being.

January marks the start of the Rooibos harvest season in Clanwilliam – a quaint town tucked away at the foot of the majestic Cederberg mountains and the only place in the world where Rooibos grows.