Rooibos and Honeybush moves give small-scale farmers a leg up
Innovative use of products to replace traditional oak and other costly imported wood derivatives led to recent launch of no-sulphur-added red wine
The names Rooibos and Honeybush are as proudly South African as braaivleis, boerewors and the Springboks — and the plants are now being used to produce a healthier wine. The unique characteristics of the Rooibos and Honeybush plants spring from the climatic and geographical conditions in the Western Cape biome. Rooibos grows in a narrow 60,000ha belt of very specific soil and terroir in the Cederberg area, but Honeybush grows throughout the Western Cape. The extensive trademarks and patents protecting these two unique botanical treasures were presented as part of an official South African address at the 56th general assembly of the World Intellectual Property Organisation conference that was held in Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2016. Rooibos and Honeybush were singled out at the conference as "South African treasures" since they are both endemic to SA and are among the most widely commercially cultivated botanical species originating in the country, with more than 300 trademarks ...
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