If you want to replace coffee with a healthier and less dehydrating option, your nearest coffee chain might just give you that alternative. South Africa’s red bush tea under the name of ‘Rooibos’ is likely to enter the Indian market through coffee chains with a tea which ‘looks and tastes like coffee’ (rooibos cappuccino) with lots of health benefits, said Charl Rudman, Managing Director, Blue Africa Trading.

Blue Africa Trading, an international trade and marketing company is negotiating with two leading coffee retailers in the country.

An Afrikaan word that means “red bush”, rooibos is grown only in South Africa. The rooibos tea plantations are situated in Clanwilliam, in the Western Cape, South Africa. This is a naturally caffeine-free tea that is expected to appeal to only few taste buds. But over the past few years, health benefits such as high level of antioxidants, lack of caffeine and refreshing taste and aroma have made it a popular choice for tea lovers across the world. Rooibos is also said to assist with nervous tension, allergies and digestive problems.

Its growing popularity has created an industry worth around $23 billion across the world.

Rooiboos teas are extensively sold across 150 coffee retail outlets in South Africa priced at $1 to $1.50 for a single cup. Even in China, it has been introduced in coffee chains under the name of ‘Chappuccino’.

“Rooibos is already popular in the US, Netherlands, Germany and UK. In South Africa it was the first herbal tea for the African bushman and is almost 300 years old as a category. We hope to be the first company to introduce this tea in India,” said Rudman.

In South Africa, new flavours of rooibos have entered the market in various categories. There's a new menu of fruit-flavoured rooibos teas, rooibos cappuccinos and even espressos.

purvita@thehindu.co.in

nivedita.ganguly@thehindu.co.in

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