Rooibos
Rooibos suppliers and sourcing guide
Rooibos is Aspalathus linearis, a shrub in the legume family grown in the Cederberg region of South Africa's Western and Northern Cape. The leaves and fine stems are cut, bruised and left to oxidize (ferment) before sun drying, which turns them red; green rooibos skips oxidation and is dried quickly. Buyers purchase cut tea grades, fine powder, and water extracts dried to a powder for drinks and supplements.
- Category
- Botanicals and mushrooms
- Also known as
- Aspalathus linearis · red bush · redbush · green rooibos
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of rooibos
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Fermented (red) cut tea
Oxidized, sun-dried leaves and stems, graded by cut size and the proportion of stem for tea bags and loose tea.
Green (unoxidized) rooibos
Leaves and stems dried without oxidation; lighter in color and handled separately because it browns if exposed to moisture.
Powder
Milled red or green rooibos for blends, baking and capsules, sold by mesh size.
Water extract
Hot-water extract concentrated and spray dried, sometimes on a carrier; some grades declare an aspalathin content by HPLC.
Organic
Cut tea, powder or extract from certified organic farms, with the certificate tied to the lot.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Identity
- Visual and microscopic examination of leaf and stem pieces, or an HPLC fingerprint, to confirm Aspalathus linearis.
- Aspalathin assay (HPLC)
- For green rooibos and standardized extracts, aspalathin and related flavonoids by HPLC. Fermented rooibos contains much less, so the grade belongs on the spec.
- Moisture
- Loss on drying against the spec; the origin specification sets different moisture ceilings for fermented and green rooibos.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, E. coli and Salmonella. Raw herb powders carry more microbial load than extracts and may be steam treated, which should be stated on the COA.
- Pesticide residues
- Multi-residue screen, required for organic claims and commonly requested for conventional material.
- Heavy metals
- Lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury, usually by ICP-MS, checked against the buyer's limits and Prop 65 exposure targets where relevant.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Keep rooibos in sealed, lined bags or cartons in a cool, dry, dark area away from odorous goods, because the leaf picks up smells. Green rooibos is more sensitive to moisture and light and should be kept tightly closed. Shelf life is set by the supplier's spec and confirmed at retest by moisture, color and microbiology.
Lots and expiry dates
Color, cut size, stem content and aspalathin content change with harvest and processing, so compare each lot to the spec and a retained sample. Record the supplier lot, grade (red or green) and retest date, and keep origin documents if the product is sold under the rooibos name in markets that protect it.
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
An application for EU protected designation of origin status for "Rooibos / Red Bush" (file ZA/PDO/0005/02427), published in the EU geographical indications register, states the name refers only to dried leaves and stems of Aspalathus linearis from the defined area.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)The same specification sets moisture below 10% for oxidized rooibos and below 5% for green (unoxidized) rooibos.
Source: ec.europa.eu (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Rooibos suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking rooibos suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell rooibos? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of rooibos can brands buy?
Common forms include fermented (red) cut tea, green (unoxidized) rooibos, powder, water extract and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for rooibos include?
Expect identity, aspalathin assay (HPLC), moisture, microbiology, pesticide residues and heavy metals, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should rooibos be stored?
Keep rooibos in sealed, lined bags or cartons in a cool, dry, dark area away from odorous goods, because the leaf picks up smells. Green rooibos is more sensitive to moisture and light and should be kept tightly closed. Shelf life is set by the supplier's spec and confirmed at retest by moisture, color and microbiology.
What is the regulatory status of rooibos?
An application for EU protected designation of origin status for "Rooibos / Red Bush" (file ZA/PDO/0005/02427), published in the EU geographical indications register, states the name refers only to dried leaves and stems of Aspalathus linearis from the defined area. The same specification sets moisture below 10% for oxidized rooibos and below 5% for green (unoxidized) rooibos.
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