10 reasons to make rooibos your favourite cooking partner in the kitchen
By Carmen Niehaus It comes as no surprise that rooibos is seen as a superfood – by now it is well-known for its health benefits due to the abundance of antioxidants. But did you know that rooibos can also be your best companion in the kitchen, as they pair well with almost any type of…
Rooibos MTB by Carmién
Bright red banners led the way as the Rooibos MTB by Carmién event kicked off its maiden race on a super cold morning up on the Piekenierskloof Mountain Pass. The brave, the fearless, the inquisitive, the dedicated workers and organisers, and spectators were there, huddled in tents or around open drum fires sipping the now…
News from the Farm
NEWS FROM THE FARM The excessive June rains that have left the village of Citrusdal stranded without access for days, have caused several challenges in the management of our Rooibos schedules for this time of the year; not only in the planting of seedlings for the new season, as they would have been washed away…
Sensory Workshop presented by the Stellenbosch University Food Science Department
In our quest to continue supplying rooibos of exceptional high standard and quality, it is important to train all staff involved on an annual basis. Regular training helps to improve our internal grading and tasting protocols. We recently sent our entire quality and grading panel for a Sensory Workshop on the quality assessment of rooibos.…
Carmién Tea product expansion in the USA
The Carmién Tea footprint in the USA is growing steadily and serving our vision to see our brand on retail shelves throughout the US. It is always encouraging to find that our product ranges and future developments are in alignment with market trends. A recent visit has led to new retailer opportunities, deeper future product…
#RooibosRecipe: Super Seed Rusks by Carmen Niehaus (Airfryer-friendly)
Recipe by Carmen Niehaus. There is no better way to start your day than with a warm cuppa tea or coffee enjoyed with a crunchy rusk for dipping. These yummy seed rusks (the best I have ever tasted when it comes to gluten-free and low carb) are not only super delicious, they are super healthy…
News from the Farm: June 2023
A freezing cold winter has hit the Western Cape with a vengeance and power outages and flooding remain the order of the day. Citrusdal, often cited as the gateway to the Rooibos region, seemed central to the floods of heaven with the road that leads into the village being swept away and the bridge left…
Rooibos options from Carmién Tea
Since the deregulation of the Rooibos industry in 1993, Carmién Tea has established itself as producer and supplier of quality packaged Rooibos tea retail products in South Africa, one of the largest bulk tea exporters, and private label packer to many countries around the globe. We are particularly known for our superior quality, freshness and…
News from the Farm
Updates from the farm The skies over our valley are shrouded in a chilly, dense winter fog most mornings. Not only are we feeling the cold but the seedlings in the nursery as well. The cold weather leads to slower growth so our estimated planting out of the new seedlings may even take place later…
Celebrating World Nurses Day
In January 1974, 12 May was chosen to celebrate International Nurses Day as it is the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing. Together with our community development arm, the Mouton Foundation, we celebrate the work the Foundation has done to bring professional and easily accessible nursing care to our farm workers…
#RooibosRecipe: Blueberry Coconut Cake by Carmen Niehaus
Spoil Mom with lots of love and a lovely cake you specially baked for her and enjoy it with a delicious cup of tea on Mother’s Day. Our new Passion Peach rooibos tea from our speciality pyramid range is ideal not only for brewing the perfect cup of rooibos tea with wonderful fruity flavours,…
Ginger, the ultimate immune boosting ingredient
Having grown up on a farm and part of the Carmién family, our first memory at the mention of Ginger is the honey, ginger and lemon rooibos tea mix we had to drink to relieve bouts of flu. A close second to that would be Ginger biscuits (which we disliked when we were small) and…
News from the Farm: April 2023
Winter has shown up early with many bouts of rain and cold pushing the completion of harvest time to early May. It is a struggle to dry the tea with so many cold days and very little sun but the tea quality is excellent. On the farms, field maintenance continue and seedlings sown in March…
The Versatility of Green Rooibos
Rooibos and green rooibos share many health benefits and ongoing research continues to astound us with new findings regarding its health benefits. Green rooibos has a higher polyphenol content than fermented Rooibos and therefore higher antioxidant levels. It is naturally caffeine-free and known to relieve allergies, sleep disorders, digestive problems, headaches and more. Being kilojoule and preservative free it is also ideal…
Feedback from our recent travels
Recent Carmién Tea travels included visits to Biofach in Germany, Foodex in Japan and Gulfood in Dubai, the one place where the world gathers annually to source from an unrivalled F&B product showcase, handpicked from every corner of the globe. Gulfood 2023 hosted a record 5000+ exhibitors from over 125 countries, unveiling new business opportunities.…
The Convenience Factor: Cold Brew and Ready To Drink Rooibos Teas
In our fast paced world where nothing ever comes to a standstill, convenience is rapidly rising with consumers seeking convenience solutions to every aspect of their lives, spurring companies in the food industry value chain to greater innovation in both product and services in order to remain relevant. This is very evident in the beverage…
Rooibos and Chamomile, a powerful combination
Chamomile is probably one of the most ancient medicinal herbs known to mankind. It is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae family and represented by two common varieties viz. German Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and Roman Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile). The dried flowers of the chamomile plant contain many components, namely, flavonoids, terpenoids, and coumarins, contributing to its therapeutic medicinal properties.…
News from the farm
The latest updates, direct from the farm. Rainforest Alliance Program Carmién Tea (Pty)Ltd and our subcontracted processing plant, Bergendal Rooibos (Pty)Ltd are proud to be part of the Rainforest Alliance Certification Program. This seal is your guarantee that our certified product, Rooibos, was produced using methods that support the three pillars of sustainability: social,…
Why Rooibos is good for your garden
Much has been said about the multiple health benefits of Rooibos or ‘red bush’ tea, derived from the unique herbal shrub native to the Western Cape region of South Africa, but its benefits and uses stretch way beyond just human health and enjoyment. As summer now draws to a close in South Africa we are…
Rooibos benefits for your pets
Who would have thought that rooibos, generally touted as beneficial for the whole family, includes the furry ones in the family too! Yes, rooibos is as good for your pet as it is for you. This uniquely South African herbal tea, often called red bush tea, is increasingly being used in dog treats, pet food…
Rooibos as a healthy alternative for children
Herbal infusions or tisanes, like Rooibos, are creating a stir amongst youngsters in the growing demand for healthier beverage alternatives. This is also true for health-conscious parents who, due to the high levels of natural sugar in fruit juices are opting for herbal teas and tisanes. Both parents and manufacturers experimented with fruit juices diluted…
Frequently Asked Questions about Rooibos
We answer some of the most frequently asked questions regarding rooibos. Do Carmién Tea supply bulk Rooibos and packaged products? All our products are available in bulk bags, vacuum packed or boxed, then packed on pallets and wrapped, ready to be delivered to clients across the globe. Bulk products include Rooibos, Honeybush, Buchu, Hoodia, Dried…
Our top-selling Rooibos teas
The growing trend towards healthy eating, more fresh produce, natural ingredients and functionality are proving increasingly important to consumers. More home cooking and more conscious food choices were a by-product of the pandemic, especially by younger consumers around the world. Ethically sourced and sustainably produced products are also showing faster growth than those not marketed…
News from the Farm: January 2023
January is synonymous with rooibos harvesting, clearing the tea fields of unwanted weeds and cleaning all the machinery that will be used during harvesting. Scorching hot days make it very uncomfortable for workers to clean the fields. While some cooling rain in December brought relief and a last growth boost for the rooibos plants, it…
Key reasons why we should detox
A lot has been said about detox and we get lost in the maze of information out there, so it may be time to just highlight the key reasons why we should detox. Less fad and more fact. Less deprivation more inspiration. A thoughtfully planned detox gets rid of more than just excess weight. It…
Why you should consider giving up caffeine
Staunch coffee lovers may balk at the idea of even considering giving up on that familiar energy kick that comes with a good cup of coffee. With or without milk, coffee has an increasing and very distinct allure. With that, too, the undeniable sociability of a quick coffee with friends or colleagues goes without equal.…
Festive Season Greetings from our MD, Mientjie Mouton
We look back on yet another successful year with deep gratitude. With Covid still a reality, especially in the East, and the European war directly affecting our largest export markets, Germany and Japan, it is only with great thankfulness and humility that we report another year of good growth. We recognise our dependency on the…
Our journey towards sustainable packaging options
Packaging has certainly not given up on its outward beauty but just like the fashion world, it has little meaning if it there is no inner beauty as well. From an attractive visual presentation, product packaging aims to leave a lasting impression on both customers and clients but as important as these first impressions are,…
#RooibosRecipe: Slow Roasted Leg of Lamb
Leg of lamb, slowly roasted to perfection, was always part of our Sunday lunch menu way back when I grew up on the farm. Salt and pepper were basically the only seasoning my mom used to flavour the meat, because a Bergendal lamb grazing in the mountains, was already well-flavoured. It was always served with…
Teas for specific purposes
Tea has certainly not lost its soothing, relaxing, ‘feel-like-it-can-solve-any-problem’ qualities, but it has definitely taken on increased purpose towards better health. We no longer just want that relaxing cuppa. It has to work for us (like most things nowadays). Covid 19 made a huge contribution to the shift towards greater health awareness and what your…