Honeybush Tea–A Rediscovered Indigenous South African Herbal Tea

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cyclopia species are used to manufacture a herbal infusion called honeybush tea. The pleasant sweet, honey-like flavour and anecdotal evidence of the beneficial qualities of honeybush tea consumption make this herbal infusion a healthy alternative to coffee and black tea. Honeybush tea has been known to South Africans for centuries and, until recently, was processed only on a small-scale, mainly for home consumption. Growing interest in herbal teas, both locally and overseas, has resulted in a revival of the honeybush tea industry. Research addressed the lack of a standardized processing method, which in turn lead to the production of poor and inconsistent quality tea.