South Africa (Mzansi), my Next Destination

Rooibos: South Africa’s Red Bush — An Overview Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) is a caffeine‑free herbal infusion native to South Africa, prized for its reddish infusion, gentle sweetness, and antioxidant profile. Unlike traditional tea from Camellia sinensis, rooibos is a leguminous shrub whose leaves are harvested, often fermented (for the classic red color) or left unfermented as green rooibos for a lighter, more vegetal cup. A Short History: From Indigenous Use to Global Cup The Khoisan peoples were the earliest known custodians and users of rooibos, harvesting and processing wild plants for hydration and medicinal uses long before colonial records. European botanists later documented the plant, and commercial cultivation began in the 20th century after agricultural breakthroughs made seed germination and farming viable. Over time rooibos evolved from a local remedy into a global wellness product. Where It’s Grown: The Cederberg and Surrounds Rooibos grows almost exclusiv...