Rooibos: How the world drinks our tea-licious export

If you’ve ever wondered how the rest of the world takes our beloved Rooibos tea, you’d be surprised to learn that each country has their own special way!

Rooibos records: Distinct ways to drink tea

The South African Rooibos Council (SARC) says that consumers around the globe have their own distinct way of drinking our tea. According to Adele du Toit, a spokesperson for the Council, tea-drinking traditions have always been incorporated into cultures around the world for centuries and the different ways people drink their tea reveals these unique cultural nuances.

For instance, the English tend to drink Rooibos with milk and sugar. Eastern nations, on the other hand, drink theirs black, rather weak with no sugar or any flavourings.

Du Toit says that the Europeans, who come from a more herbal background, prefer to mix the tea with lots of delicately flavoured herbs.

American Rooibos-drinkers like their tea mostly cold or iced and prefer to use more in-your-face, full-flavoured teas, so Rooibos becomes a carrier.

And how do South Africans take their tea?

The Council also conducted a survey, where 1 000 South African tea-drinkers were asked the important question of ‘How do you take your tea?’.

The majority of South Africans, 41%, prefer to drink their Rooibos tea in its purest form with nothing added. A good number (21%) sweeten their tea with a teaspoon of sugar or sweetener, while 34% use honey.

When it comes to the exact type of Rooibos tea product that South Africans prefer the most, an incredible 44% said they like a cup of regular Rooibos the best, while the other 56% said cappuccinos, espressos, flavoured, chai and iced tea are their absolute favourites.

Check all the findings of the survey here.

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