Super harvest for a super tea!
The UK tea category is becoming more fragmented due to customer demand for more choice, and consumers leading a busy and stressful lifestyle are switching to de-caffeinated tea in an attempt to become healthier.
 Rooibos tea has been in the UK since the 1970's and is naturally caffeine free, high in antioxidants and low in harmful tannins. It has been growing in popularity worldwide, so this year's record breaking harvest will ensure that demand will be met with plenty of supply.
Over 15,000 tons of Rooibos, which can only be grown in the Cederberg region in South Africa, has been harvested this year. This will enable Rooibos Ltd, the key supplier to companies in the UK, to replenish their reserve stock and prepare for a prosperous 2008. A combination of good rainfall and the extra hectares planted during the last couple of years since 2003 is behind the successful growth of crops this year.
Arend Redelinghuys, Marketing Manager at Rooibos Ltd comments: "Rooibos is growing in popularity all over the world, and with the increased importance being placed on health and lifestyle we fully expect this growth to continue. With the impressive crop we have seen this year we hope to be able to satisfy worldwide demand for Rooibos among our customer base and to fill the reserves in anticipation of busy and prosperous years ahead. Although a little early to make predictions, the rainfall to date has been excellent and the forecast is that the 2008 Rooibos harvest will outshine this year's crop."
Black tea was once the only tea British consumers chose to drink but times are changing. Now the market is split into many categories. The speciality tea category, the fastest growing category, includes herbal tea, fruit tea, medicinal team functional tea and flavoured tea.
Consumers are making the switch to de-caffeinated and herbal teas in an attempt to become healthier. In today's stressful lives, consumers are more demanding of food and drink products that suit their lifestyle.
Recent research from health specialists YorkTest shows that one in 20 people have an intolerance to caffeine, and with Britain drinking around 70 million cups of coffee a day, a naturally caffeine-free cup of Rooibos is looking like a healthy alternative. Rooibos is also rich in anti-oxidants and is said to have anti-carcinogenic properties. It also has the added advantage that it can be consumed with milk unlike most other herbal teas.
Jane Griffin, consultant nutritionist, says: "We are a tea-loving nation and as such Rooibos tea should have wide appeal and fit comfortably into our current lifestyles. Rooibos tea has many unique health benefits and really stands alone among teas."
Rooibos Ltd has been the preferred supplier to leading brands since 1954. With 70% international market share and a contracted farmer base of more than 250 farms, Rooibos Ltd is in an ideal position to guarantee supply of the best quality Rooibos tea. The Rooibos Ltd factory is HACCP certified ensuring excellent quality standards and ultimately peace of mind for customers and consumers.
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