WHAT IS ROOIBOS?

Aspalathus linearis in Bloom

Rooibos is an Afrikaans Word when translated to English means "red bush".  Pronounced "Roy-Bus"

Burke International distributes a line of products under the brand name ROOIBOS.  The extract used in the products are from the botanical plant "Aspalathus linearis".  The plant, a leguminous shrub which very much resembles a cedar bush grows along the Cedarberg Mountain slopes, Cape of Good Hope, South Africa.  The beverage derived from the plant is most commonly referred to as "Bush Tea", "Red Bush Tea", and "Rooibos".

 CEDARBERG MOUNTAINS, SOUTH AFRICA

The beverage made from Aspalathus linearis has been enjoyed by South Africans generation after generation.  However, the first record of the plant being used as a beverage dates back to 1772 as reported by Carl Thunberg.  He began domesticating and marketing the herbal plants as "tea".

 1904, Benjamin Ginsberg, a Russian immigrant became interested in the plant.  His family had been involved in the tea industry in Europe which gave him the expertise to market what he referred to as "Mountain Tea".

 1930, Dr. P. Le Fras Nortier discovered the real value of this plant as an agricultural product.  He inspired other farmers and the cultivation began.

 1968, Annique Theron did independent studies on Babies with allergies and reported her findings in her book "Allergies an Amazing Discovery".  At the International Inventions Exhibition in Geneva, Annique Theron was honoured with a gold medal for the discovery of Rooibos Tea's anti-allergic properties. 

 1971, Annique Theron introduced a Skin Care Line - the first in the world to use a patented extract of the plant to produce a line of products for sensitive and allergic skins.

1971 - TO DATE,  Scientific research have verified the antiallergic qualities and many other special properties of Aspalathus linearias.  In the 1980's Japanese and American scientists found a powerful and stable antioxidant called super-oxide dismutase in the tea.  In 1995, a South African research company verified that the tea did indeed have the following properties:  Antiallergic - Antiageing - Antioxidant - Antispasmodic - Antiviral.

World wide research is just beginning to discover the internal and external benefits this Herbal Plant may hold for all of mankind.

This is no ordinary herbal tea - it has a distinctive flavor, is naturally caffeine free and low in tannin.  In addition to the familiar "red tea" we now have available "green tea"  from the same plant.  The fermentation process brings about the red color of the brew, the green tea is unfermented and touted to have more anti-oxidants than the red as some of the anti-oxidants are released during the fermentation process.

A SIMPLE HERB - A NATURAL WONDER

Aspalathus linearis, a simple herb, native to South Africa is now one of the natural wonders of the world.  Only continued scientific research will reveal the true benefits of this natural wonder. To date there has been no other area in the world suitable for cultivation of this herbal plant.  As demand increases, so does price.  Annual production is based on the amount of rainfall and other weather conditions. 

ASPALATHUS LINEARIS - "ROOIBOS" IS NATURALLY CAFFEINE FREE.