Honeybush

The honeybush was discovered in the 18th century in South Africa, just like the Rooibos. The honeybush shrub has brightly glowing yellow blossoms which smell like honey. Thanks to this look it got its name. The natives also call it the vegetable bush because it grows long fruits and has knotty roots.

 

The wild-growing honeybush grows exclusively in the small mountains in the so-called Longkloof district. The bush grows to a height of 1.50 m and prospers especially well on humid soil.

 

 

In the early 90s, Dr. Hannes De Lange of the National Botanical Institute Kirstenbosh close to Capetown rediscovered the honeybush. He cultivated the plant and marketed it. Today, honeybush is commercially grown on 35 different plantations and the wild-growing bushes are spared.

Other sources say that, until today, no commercial cultivation of honeybush exists because the demand is not as high as for the Rooibos.

Three different qualities of Honeybush exist: large, medium and fine. The larger the cut, the less sweet is the taste.

Honeybush can be better flavoured than Rooibos, because it does not form lumps as quickly. However, it has to be noted that the Honeybush has a stronger sweet character which does not harmonise well with just any other flavour.

 


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