Collecting Seeds is the first step in the Rooibos cycle.

When I first arrived in 2008 at the Kookfontein farm I was amazed at how people were hunting for these Rooibos seeds.  Imagine how hard it has been to collect a lot given how small the seeds are. But luckily ants' nests which are in no short supply on the farm have proven to be a good source of seeds as the ants gather them for food.

A question a lot of people like to ask is:
“Why would these pests be a lucky thing to find?”

Well, not only do we love Rooibos, but ants do like them as food sources. They travel long distances in ants' steps in the Rooibos field in search of the seeds and collecting them in their nests. This made it easier for the seed collectors to get the seeds by just sifting the soil.

The collectors stayed on the farm for many days and nights right after Spring sleeping in this sort of man-made tent, usually once a year. The farmers got a percentage of the seeds while the rest were sold, for a small income. The method seems to be still used at farms, together with more advanced sifting methods.

Fun fact: Did you know not only do people destroy ant nests for Rooibos seeds? The "erdvark" anteater thrives on Ants too.

Germinating seeds to grow Seedlings produce another challenge!

Have you ever noticed how small and hard an uncooked grain of rice is? A Rooibos seed is almost the same and the hard shell, unfortunately, prevents natural germination. After a devilish field fire made its way through a rooibos field, viciously eating the weeds, it destroys the Rooibos bushes on the surface.

Fire kills, right? But I’m sure Rooibos seeds have a motto of, ‘what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,’ because after the fires they sprang up as if life was given to them. The fire causes the seeds to burst open and then they start germinating.

Other methods including chemicals, sacrificial and abrasion are used these days to get rid of the hard shell.

Seedling beds need careful planning

Fun Fact: Collecting Rooibos seeds can be tricky as they spontaneously burst out when ripe.

To ensure Rooibos grows correctly the seeds are sown and well cared for in prepared fields with good irrigation systems and fertilization. Seedlings need to be strong to survive the harsh condition of nature.

Planting  - Winter Wet experience

Its dark and coldness seep into the openings of the farmer’s and the team's clothes.

Why would they go out when it’s freezing, raining and the sun hasn’t even woken up yet? - Well, the answer is plain and simple. For you.

A suffering back-breaking work, for a warm cup of ‘Rooibos

That’s why Rooibos isn’t just Rooibos.  It’s hard work and so much love.

Rooibos is grown in a region known as Sandveld. The seedlings need to be planted in the rain, as the soil which is being planted is sand the holes fall close if the sand is dry. The tractor with a hole maker makes holes in the sand whilst raining and then the planter will follow with a seedling insert it in the hole and step on the sand to secure the seedling.

Hold on, I just need to fetch a towel to dry these icy raindrops from my body.  See you in the next chapter.

Reality Fact: A wet cold job. Rooibos is planted in the rain.

Summer is here, checking the weather forecast with these questions

“How is the weather?”

“How does the weather look?”

“Does the weather look fine?”

This is frequently asked by hustling farmers. Rooibos needs an average of 2-3 days of hot sunshine from harvest to cup production.

Luckily the West Coast Region is well known for its extremely hot days.

“I’d rather have a cold ice tea, with lots of ice, please.”

When the Rooibos are ready, farmers leave early, AGAIN, and bring back loads of Rooibos, rather late in the afternoon and plan for the next day of production.

Reality Fact:  Harvest takes place in summer, in full sunshine, back-breaking work.

The day after harvesting we unbundle the Rooibos and put them on a grid, making the sand fall through.  Sticks or any other unwanted particles will be removed.

Let us have a goodnight sleep while the Rooibos Sweats

Talking about oxygen, here's a reminder for you to ‘just breathe and drink some Rooibos.’

While sweating the temperature in the heaps' should increase to 40 degrees Celcius, early the next morning the rooibos will then be thrown all over the processing court for a sunbath. - Yea lots of Vitamin D till the Rooibos are completely dried.

Workers will spend their day turning the Rooibos every now and then to ensure the Rooibos doesn’t get lumpy and dry out properly.  It needs to be perfect.

Once the Rooibos is finally properly dried, it is collected in bags until there is enough to start the sifting process this concludes the processing done on Kookfontein.

After this process, the Rooibos is transported for pasteurization and marketing.

Fun Fact: The Rooibos' peculiar Aroma fills the air during the production.