Meet Brandt Coetzee, who took the invasive, Mesquite tree, and brewed a cuppa caffeine-free coffee substitute from the roasted beans.
Seedpod to coffee has not been an easy journey. It all started back in 1996.
Back then Brandt stayed in Prieska, 400km northeast of Calvinia. It is here that farmlands are being taken over by thousands of invasive thorn trees, known as Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa) trees. These trees compete strongly with native species for available soil water. The water usage of the average size Mesquite tree (2,5 to 3,5 m high) is about 60L/day.
The tree was introduced as a beneficial livestock feed, fuel and shade tree in the arid regions lacking in indigenous trees. However, the appearance of dense stands of this major water user, in these particularly water scarce areas, turned the Mesquite tree into a highly undesirable invasive alien weed. The tree is also allelopathic, meaning that it contaminates (poisons) the soil that it grows on to prevent the germination and growth of other native plant species. Today 500 000 hectares of land can’t be farmed on because of the Mesquite tree.
Government launched the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) in 1994. One RDP project employed about 150 local people to chop down mesquite trees in and around Prieska. Brandt saw an opportunity and took all the dead wood and started a woodwork factory, making furniture that was exported to America and other markets. With the strengthening
of the Rand, exporting was no longer profitable and in 2004 he closed the factory.
The Mesquite tree was initially planted for animal feed, with this in mind, they started researching the pods for human consumption. Analysis of the pods was done at Tukkies (University of Pretoria), The University of the Freestate, and 3 independent studies by The Glycemic Index Foundation. The promising benefits of these pods, for people struggling with Type 2 diabetes and those struggling with weight or cholesterol issues, encouraged him to take his product to market. In 2005 he launched Manna Blood Sugar Support products, that is found on all pharmacy shelves.
And Coffee?
Brandt’s main drivers are job creation and water conservation. He needed a product that could go truly global making more of an impact on the local ecology. Asking the Lord for advice he came up with the idea of the coffee. After 18 months of intense experimentation, he had a product that looked and tasted similar to coffee.
Involving the poorest of the poor in the local community, they collect the pods in and around the towns. The local community is given bags and once these bags are filled and weighed they get cash in hand. A great capital injection for these towns. A small window of only 2 to 3 weeks allows them to harvest a year’s supply of the Mesquite seedpods before the summer rains start to fall. But this small harvesting window brings a smile to the faces of the locals in the poverty-stricken Karoo towns. About one thousand people are involved each year during the harvesting process, providing them with needed seasonal work.
The pods are sorted by hand to ensure they are of the highest quality, before being weighed, put into bags, and transported to Somerset West, in the Western Cape. When the pods arrive at the MannaBrew processing plant, they are sorted once more, before being roasted, milled, and blended into the perfect ground consistency. The seedpods are slow roasted to enhance the rich, smooth, caramel, nutty flavors that can be enjoyed like any other coffee, giving you lots of energy but without the side effects of caffeine.
MannaBrew is not just another coffee brand trying to convince you that their coffee is the best, because it is NOT COFFEE. It is a Superfood!
Benefits of MannaBrew
No caffeine
Rich in antioxidants, minerals and vitamins
Lowers blood pressure
Support healthy blood sugar levels
Boosts your immune system
Contains essential sugars to energise and uplift you
No acidity
The blended Mesquite Espresso is packed in specially made bags to secure a long shelf life. The packaging is 100% bio-degradable and recyclable and MannaBrew is certified organic.
MannaBrew looks like coffee, can be made the same ways as coffee, enjoyed the same way coffee would be, but it is a superfood that tastes super good!
Visiting MannaBrew’s website, you will find the most delicious and interesting recipes using MannaBrew in food. From baklava, muffins, ribs, and even a martini!
One farmer’s ambition and passion for the Northern Cape is not only helping the locals of the Karoo but he helps to get rid of an invasive species one cuppa at a time.
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