Why rooibos could be the world’s peace offering

It seems logical that a brand like Coca-Cola – which dominates the soft drink market globally – would have few real competitors in the sector.

Yet executives will admit that consumption of coffee and tea is what really worries them.

The reality is that, for all the options out there, tea is still second only to water as the most consumed drink in the world.

It’s no different in South Africa, where, according to research company Eighty20, more than 22.6 million South African adults enjoy rooibos, green tea or traditional tea every day.

ALSO READ: Rooibos, tea or coffee? What South Africans like to drink

Almost half of them also enjoy a daily cup of coffee, and 30% of traditional tea drinkers also sip some rooibos daily.

Rooibos, of course, is that uniquely South African brand of herbal tea grown in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape… and which is an acquired taste, shall we say.

Fans of the herb tea – and their legions are growing around the world as it is exported to more than 50 countries – believe rooibos has significant health benefits, being caffeine-free and high in antioxidants.

Whatever your preference, you cannot deny that an inviting cuppa helps soothe the nerves. Maybe the world should make tea, rather than make war…

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