Rooibos Council

09/09/2026

Fun fact: Rooibos leaves aren't naturally red. 🌿

They're picked green, then bruised and left in the sun where they slowly oxidise, turning that famous red-brown colour. It's this transformation that gives the name Rooibos its meaning: "red bush" in Afrikaans.

What other Rooibos facts do you want to know? Drop your questions below!

08/09/2026

☕ 𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝗶𝗯𝗼𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝘂𝗽? 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆! 🚀

We’re calling on all young innovators, future scientists and budding artists 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝟭𝟮 – 𝟭𝟴 to create the official Rooibos in Space mission patch. Parents, teachers and guardians, inspire the young people in your lives to dream big and let their imaginations soar among the stars!

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
🎨 Upload a design with a short, written description of the elements used and how it connects to the Rooibos in Space mission. Complete the entry form and stand a chance to win out-of-this-world prizes, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝟮𝟬 𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹.

🚀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁-𝗼𝗳𝗳? Click here to enter:
https://sarooibos.co.za/mission-patch-design-competition/
Competition closes on Sunday 20 September 2026

Design the Rooibos in Space Mission Patch Bring our space story to life and be part of South African space history! Calling all 12-18-year-olds! Entries

07/09/2026

Stress doesn't just affect your mood, it can affect your heart too, right down to a cellular level.

When heart cells are placed under stress in the lab, they can swell and thicken, an early warning sign linked to heart disease. Exciting lab research shows Rooibos helps protect heart cells from exactly this kind of stress response, while also boosting the body's natural antioxidant defences.

Antioxidants doing their quiet work, one cup at a time. 🍃

03/09/2026

Spring has entered the chat 🌸☀️

Guess what, yes, Rooibos is absolutely coming with us. Serve it chilled, add plenty of ice and soak up the first taste of the new season.

Here’s to sunnier days and Rooibos in the garden. 🧊🌿

28/08/2026

🚜 From farm to cup. ☕

Behind every sip is the passion, dedication and expertise of South African Rooibos farmers. 🌱❤️

Generations have cared for this incredible plant, ensuring that every harvest reflects the quality and heritage of our unique landscape.

Here's to the people who make every cup possible. 🙌

27/08/2026

📡 Incoming transmission from Mission Control: Parents, guardians and teachers we need your help!

We’re looking for learners between the ages of 12 -18 to create an iconic mission patch for the Rooibos in Space Journey, which will see Rooibos seeds sent to the International Space Station (ISS) later this year.

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
🎨 Upload a design with a short, written description of the elements used and how it connects to the Rooibos in Space mission. Complete the entry form and stand a chance to win incredible space-themed prizes, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝟮𝟬 𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀’ 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹!

Think bold. Think South Africa. Think Rooibos. Think beyond the stars.

🚀 If you choose to accept this mission, click here to enter: https://sarooibos.co.za/mission-patch-design-competition/ Competition closes on Sunday 20 September 2026

Design the Rooibos in Space Mission Patch Bring our space story to life and be part of South African space history! Calling all 12-18-year-olds! Entries

25/08/2026

Every discovery starts with a question and the determination to find the answer.

Meet Greta, whose work is exploring the potential role of Rooibos in supporting neurological health.

“I am an MSc Medicinal Plant Science student at the University of Pretoria.

My research explores how Rooibos, South Africa’s iconic bush tea, could support standard Parkinson’s disease treatments by gently boosting brain‑protective pathways.

By studying how different Rooibos preparations influence key neurological enzymes and nerve cell resilience, this work aims to position Rooibos as a safe, everyday adjuvant that helps preserve movement, memory and quality of life for people living with Parkinson’s disease.”

22/08/2026

Wellness check-in!

What fills your cup? ❤️

✨ Exercise
📚 Reading
🚶 A walk outdoors
👨‍👩‍👧 Time with family
☕ A cup of Rooibos
😴 An early night

Tell us in the comments what helps you feel your best.

Let's inspire one another this Women's Month. 💛

21/08/2026

🚀 South Africa, we can’t wait to have lift off!!

Every great space mission has an iconic patch. Now it's time to create one for the Rooibos in Space mission.

Later this year, Rooibos seeds will be headed to the International Space Station (ISS) and we’re calling on all future designers, artists and space enthusiasts aged 12-18 to be part of our mission and make history!

𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀:
🎨 Upload a design with a short, written description of the elements used and how it connects to the Rooibos in Space mission. Complete the entry form and stand a chance to win out-of-this-world prizes, 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗥𝟮𝟬 𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹!

✨ Parents and teachers, help your budding astronauts prepare for launch and submit their masterpiece here by 20 September 2026: https://sarooibos.co.za/mission-patch-design-competition/

17/08/2026

Behind every breakthrough is someone asking the right questions.

Meet Anishka, whose work is helping to deepen our understanding of the relationship between Rooibos and breast cancer biology.

"Nature provides remarkable compounds—but only science can tell us how they work.

Having experienced breast cancer at a young age, I am passionate about advancing research that improves women's health. Through my PhD, I have the privilege of investigating Rooibos—one of South Africa's most iconic indigenous plants—to better understand how its natural compounds interact with breast cancer biology.

While Rooibos is well known for its health-promoting properties, natural products deserve the same rigorous scientific investigation as any other health intervention. My research aims to build the evidence needed to better understand both the potential and the safe use of Rooibos in the context of breast cancer.

This Women's Day, I am proud to be part of a generation of women in science asking important questions that could contribute to healthier futures for women.”