The 2026 rooibos season hasn’t been the easiest — but it hasn’t been without its bright spots either. Here’s an honest account of where things stand, straight from where we sit as processors and passionate advocates for South African rooibos.
Volumes Are Down and That’s Creating Real Pressure
Our suppliers delivered the last of the wet rooibos for fermentation this week, which effectively closes the harvesting chapter on our side. The numbers tell a sobering story: yields are significantly down, with some areas seeing up to a 40% decrease compared to recent seasons.
What makes this harder is that demand hasn’t followed suit. Both local and international buyers remain hungry for supply — arguably more so than what’s available. That gap between supply and demand is something we’re navigating carefully, leaning on our experience and carryover stock from previous seasons to keep things running smoothly for our clients.
The Silver Lining: 2026 Quality Is Exceptional
Here’s what we didn’t expect to be saying given the tough volumes: the quality this year is outstanding.
Favourable weather during the most critical growth and harvesting windows gave us consistent, clean raw material. That’s the foundation of premium rooibos, and we don’t take it for granted. Negotiations with clients started early this season, and the response — from both local and export markets — has been encouraging.
What makes 2026 Rooibos quality stand out?
- Consistent colour and flavour profiles across batches
- Clean raw material with minimal contamination risk
- Strong antioxidant retention due to optimal harvesting conditions
- High suitability for premium retail and private label product lines
Green Rooibos Is Having a Moment
With red rooibos processing wrapped up, our attention has shifted to green rooibos and the timing couldn’t be better. Favourable conditions have allowed us to start production earlier than usual, and we’re seeing steady, genuine growth in demand for green rooibos across multiple markets.
For producers who can supply young, high-quality plant material, this is worth paying attention to. The green rooibos category is no longer a niche and it’s becoming a meaningful part of the rooibos story globally.
Planting Season: Cautious Optimism
Soil preparation has gone well, and there’s a tangible sense of renewed energy among producers as we head into the planting season. The conditions are there. The will seems to be there.
That said, early signals from nurseries show seedling orders are slightly down on previous years. It’s not a red flag yet as we’ve seen activity build gradually as seasons progress, but it’s something the industry should keep an eye on. Producer confidence now shapes supply for the seasons ahead.
How the Market Is Shifting
The rooibos market has always been relationship-driven, but buyers are getting more strategic about how they source. Increasingly, they’re spreading their supply across multiple processors, not because of a lack of loyalty, but because supply security and consistency of quality demand it.
For us at Khoisan Tea, that creates both a challenge and an opening. The companies that will thrive are the ones that earn trust through:
- Reliability: being there when supply is tight
- Transparency: communicating honestly about volumes and quality
- Partnership: building relationships that outlast a single season
That’s the kind of supplier we’re working every day to be.
A New Chapter for Khoisan Tea
2025 was a turning point. After years of operating through a fixed marketer, we made the move to go fully independent, and honestly? It’s a step we wish we’d taken sooner.
Being a family-driven business has always been central to who we are, but operating independently has brought that to life in a new way. We’re now more involved across every part of the value chain, which means we can move faster, stay closer to our clients, and make decisions that reflect our values rather than someone else’s model. Our team, many of whom feel more like family than employees, makes that possible.
Let’s connect
If you’re looking at rooibos supply for 2026, whether you’re an existing partner or someone exploring what Khoisan Tea can offer, we’d genuinely love to hear from you.
Reach out via khoisantea.net or contact us directly to start the conversation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the rooibos supply outlook for 2026?
Volumes are down by up to 40% in some regions due to seasonal conditions, but quality is exceptionally high. Demand remains strong, making early sourcing conversations important for buyers.
Why is green rooibos demand growing?
Green rooibos retains more antioxidants than fermented red rooibos and appeals to health-conscious consumers globally. Production is expanding as market interest grows.
Is Khoisan Tea accepting new supply enquiries for 2026?
Yes. Khoisan Tea welcomes enquiries from both existing partners and new buyers looking to source premium South African rooibos.
Khoisan Tea is a family-owned rooibos processor based in the Cederberg region of South Africa, committed to traceable, high-quality rooibos for discerning markets worldwide.