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Each step in the processing of Cape Honeybush tea
is carefully monitored to bring you the finest product
available on the market. During the process of cutting,
fermenting, drying and sifting, controlled manufacturing
practices are strictly adhered to and all steps
of the manufacturing process are in line with SGS*
organic protocols.
The Cape Honeybush Tea Company has devoted a great
deal of time and expertise to the cultivation of
our nursery stock. Our plants are grown from cuttings,
rather than seedlings. This means that we are able
to choose only the finest plants to cultivate for
our tea production. Cuttings are carefully selected
according to stringent criteria, the most important
of which are their ability to resist disease, their
ability to regenerate and, indeed, their ability
to produce the finest tasting tea. |
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During the flowering period the bushes are covered
in brilliant, deep-yellow flowers, heavily scented
with the sweet honey aroma from which the tea acquires
its name.
The Cape Honeybush Tea Company obtains the majority
of its raw material from its own tea plantations.
The plants are harvested once a year during the
flowering period, after which they take another
9-12 months to re-grow. The full aroma of the plant
is built up in the last three to four months of
this cycle.
Our tea is handled with the greatest care and under
very strict hygienic conditions. The fully automated
hands-off process ensures consistent quality and
production capacity 365 days a year.
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A speed-controlled conveyor belt feeds a three-bladed
rotating cutter, which cuts the tea into fine
particles without breaking the structure of
the plant. |
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The Honeybush plant is fermented for approximately
24 hours at a temperature of 85°C in stainless
steel fermenter/dryer rotary drums. Only pure
mountain spring water is added during this
process. The particles are then surrounded
by hot clean air, and are dried to a level
of 8% humidity. |
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An air pump blows the tea from the fermentation
drums onto three sifters, sorting the tea
into three grades: coarse, fine and super-fine. |
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