“We pride ourselves on what we have achieved since we were allowed to produce, process and market our products on an independent basis outside the single channel Rooibos marketing board that monopolised the South African Rooibos industry until 1993”, said Mientjie Mouton, the managing director of Carmién Tea. “We offer quality products, the company is customer and market driven, we invest in our people and support the local community to ensure production stability and a rewarding future for all involved … for generations to come.”

Since 2001, Carmién Tea is also a vehicle of empowerment aiming to provide sustainable jobs and broad based wealth creation for their farm workers as an independent marketing company. Strategic partnerships with like-minded commercial and Fairtrade producers, e.g. Bergendal Farming Operations, led to the foundation of Bergendal Rooibos, a Rooibos processing plant and joint venture between Bergendal farm workers, Bergendal Farming Operations and Carmién Tea. Carmién Tea actively supports community development on shareholder’s farms. The company furthermore is committed to women- and childcare in the broader community through its partnership with Ubuntu Citrusdal.