Origins of Rooibos: The Heart of South Africa
Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), which means "red bush" in Afrikaans, grows exclusively in the Cederberg Mountains region of the Western Cape Province of South Africa. Its history dates back to ancient times, when the indigenous Khoisan people used this plant to prepare a medicinal drink.
Unique Historical Fact
Interestingly, Europeans first "discovered" rooibos in the 18th century thanks to the Swedish botanist Carl Peter Thunberg. He observed how local tribes collected and prepared this plant, which is unrelated to the familiar tea bush Camellia sinensis, but yields a wonderful drink.