Meet the Rooibos Tea farmers at OuHuis

We all know the familiar smell and taste of Rooibos Tea and thanks to Paul and Anneli Smit, we have access to high quality rooibos tea from one of the oldest commercial rooibos tea farms in South Africa –  OUHUIS® ROOIBOS TEE

The Start of Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea fields

The first people to drink Rooibos Tea were the Khoisan people, the indigenous tribe from the Cederberg region of South Africa. Over 300 years ago they were harvesting wild rooibos in the mountains to use as medicine for various ailments.

In 1772, European botanist Carl Thunberg observed the way the indigenous people climbed the mountains to find wild rooibos plants.  Thunberg began drinking Rooibos Tea and got other Cape-Dutch settlers in South Africa interested in trying it. It became a local favourite, since it was much cheaper than the expensive black tea imported from Asian countries.

In 1903, Benjamin Ginsberg (a Russian settler to the Cape and descendant of a famous tea merchant family) realised the potential of Rooibos Tea and began trading with the local Khoisan people who were harvesting it. He sold his “Mountain Tea” to settlers in the Cape and shortly became the first exporter of Rooibos Tea using contacts from the family tea business.

New growth cut and tied into bundles

Rooibos farming was very small scale at this stage.  Modern Rooibos farming started with Dr Lafras Nortier, a medical doctor and botanist.  After much experimentation, he unlocked the secret to growing Rooibos plants from seed. The first attempts at large volume cultivation were a disaster due to the small size of the seeds (they are no larger than a grain of sand), which made them difficult to find and gather. This resulted in the price of the seeds soaring to an astounding £80 per 1lb of seed.

Fortunately for Ginsberg, who employed locals to collect the seeds, one woman had found a rather unusual source of supply. While other collectors only brought in matchbox-sized quantities, she continually delivered large bags and was eventually persuaded to share her secret. While searching for the minute seeds one day, she had chanced upon ants dragging them to their nest. She followed their trail back to their nest and, on breaking it open, found a granary.

Interest in Rooibos  and its health benefits started getting noticed and in 1968, Dr. Annique Theron, a South African mother who found Rooibos helpful for her baby’s colic,  published a book called “Allergies: an amazing discovery”  It was very popular and spurred new research into the healing properties of Rooibos.  The Rooibos Tea’s popularity exploded, especially in South Africa.

About OUHUIS® Rooibos Tea

Built in 1885, the OUHUIS® (literally meaning “Old House”) is the oldest homestead of the greater Zeekoevlei farm. As the greater farm was later sub-divided into seven smaller farms, the OUHUIS® fell on the portion which became Zeekoevlei 109.

Bundles are then taken to the processing plant

This portion, as well as the portions “Groenkol” and “Jaap-se-Kop”, was bought by Willie Engelbrecht. In 1954, Willie was the first farmer in the area to commercially start cultivating Rooibos.  The first drying court for the region was built in 1961 on Seekoevlei 109 and can still be seen to this day.

In the 1980’s, Willie’s youngest son Christie, realised the value of selling rooibos under their own brand and so the OUHUIS® brand was born. In the early 1990’s, tragedy struck and Christie passed away. Christie’s wife, Bep remained on the farm and continued with the farming activities and the OUHUIS® brand. Eventually she made the decision to lease the land to Christie’s older brother, Oubaas, and his son, Willem, who were farming the neighbouring farm, Groenkol. With this decision, the OUHUIS® brand fell into disuse.

In 2004,  the Smit family started negotiations with Bep for the sale and purchase of Seekoevlei 109, along with the OUHUIS® brand and trademark, and in  2006, the Smit family revived the OUHUIS® brand.

Production of Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea is oxidized

It all starts with those tiny seeds being sown in seedbeds during March. The seedlings are planted out in the fields during the months of July and August, as the seedlings are dependant on the winter rains for growth.

The Rooibos shrubs are topped from April to September in their first year to stimulate growth and allow the plants to spread.  Thereafter the new growth is harvested every year between January and May, just before the rainy season.

The shrub is cut with sickles and tied into bundles which are then taken to the processing plant where it is cut into different lengths.

After  Rooibos is cut it is laid into heaps.  This is where the magic happens.  Here the Rooibos is oxidized (often inaccurately referred to as fermented), and the freshly cut green leaves start turning red. It then develops the distinctive flavour and sweet aroma of rooibos.  After the Rooibos is oxidised, it is rotated and then spread evenly over the whole drying area, and dried by the sun.

And the health benefits?

Rooibos contains several antioxidants, with the green variety containing higher levels than the red. Some of the most notable antioxidants in Rooibos are quercetin and aspalathin. Antioxidants are important for human health because they stop free radicals from damaging cells in the body.

Drying area

Rooibos Tea is a unique health drink –  It’s a SUPER FOOD

• Rich in anti-oxidants – The anti-oxidants minimize cholesterol build-up and prevent blood clots. Indications are that the anti-oxidants in Rooibos not only shield the body from cancer, but actively fights it.
• Caffeine-free – Caffeine can be harmful to the central nervous system, causing irritability, high blood pressure and erratic sleeping patterns.
• Contains little tannin – The high tannin content in regular teas can strip you of up to one third of your iron intake, which can leave you with chronic fatigue

Rooibos Tea is highly recommended for new moms and babies

In South Africa Rooibos Tea has been used for generations as a supplement to breastfeeding.  Rooibos Tea has an amazingly soothing effect on colic babies and allergic tots. The anti-spasmodic compounds relieve stomach cramps and colic. The minerals in Rooibos supplement the daily intake of fluoride and calcium and help to develop strong teeth and bones.  Rooibos Tea alleviates diaper rash when applied topically with each diaper change.

OUHUIS

The Smit family revived the OUHUIS® brand and has since put a lot of effort into building and marketing the brand to once again signal quality in rooibos.

Today they offer different blends of OUHUIS® Rooibos Tea, ranging from Cancerbush & Rooibos Blend, Lemongrass & Rooibos Blend, Sage & Rooibos Blend and many more.  All blended to aid and improve your health.  To find your perfect blend click here

Rooibos Tea has a pleasant taste, the tea is sweeter than other conventional teas, and tastes so good compared to some other herbal teas.  Rooibos Tea has NO side effects, and the more you drink, the better it is for you!

The Protea Kop Rooibos Tea Farm is situated in the western Rooibos Tea production area, 20km from Clanwilliam in the East and 45km from Lambert’s Bay in the West of the Western Cape in the Republic of South Africa.

It is here that OUHUIS® Rooibos Tea is cultivated and processed.

No harmful chemicals are used in the production of OUHUIS® Rooibos Tea, making it residue free. OUHUIS®  support sustainable agriculture, protect biodiversity on the farm and partner with the Landcare program by providing employment in an invasive alien plant clearing program and the rehabilitation of wetlands.

Being native to the Cederberg mountains near the Cape of Good Hope this is another Proudly South African product that is natural, healthy and simply delicious.  Get your OUHUIS® tea here

Enjoy your cuppa Rooibos Tea friends

Tash & Family

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