Uniquely South African herbal tea-like beverages have been produced from Rooibos and Honeybush. Rooibos herbal tea is already well known in a number of export markets, whilst lesser-known Honeybush herbal tea has recently been introduced locally and internationally.

Market exposure enjoyed to date has mostly been in “fermented” form. This “fermented” form is achieved through a combination of wetting, heating and drying of leaves and stalks which yield most of the characteristic colour, flavour and aroma of these herbal tea-like products.

This process is understood to involve thorough oxidation of the naturally occurring poly-phenolic compounds. The dry material is then classified, sifted (to remove stalks and fine organic “dust”) and pasteurized to yield brownish-red dry herbal tea leaves. The tea leaves are mostly packaged in individual tea bags and are used in a similar fashion to normal black tea ready for hot water brewing.

A new process has been developed for producing an extract of fermented or “red” dried plant material and unfermented or “green” dried plant material. The focus of this patent is the use of water as the only extraction medium, followed by a method of partitioning to separate the water-soluble from the insoluble parts. The fraction so obtained is concentrated and spray dried to yield a reddish fine powder.

This powder enables the user to obtain a clear and transparent solution upon reconstitution with water that will not readily form muddy sediment after prolonged standing. This process limits the quantum of oxidation during processing and secures a final product in which the naturally occurring antioxidant characteristics have been preserved.

For more detailed information contact Cape Honeybush Tea: info@capehoneybushtea.co.za