About the plant
The Honeybush is native to the cape of South Africa. It grows wild in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces from Piketberg to Port Elizabeth.
Commercial supplies of honeybush are mainly obtained from Cyclopia intermedia and to a lesser extent from Cyclopia subternata, though there are 23 species of Cyclopia identified in this narrow region of South Africa. Most of the species have very limited distribution ranges and unique habitat preferences. Some are restricted to mountain peaks, perennial streams, marshy areas, shale bands, and wet southern slopes. It appears that all the Cyclopia species are suitable for making tea, but the taste quality can vary, and some species exist in very small quantities.
South Africa’s honeybush industry is still very young and produces only about 200 tonnes of honeybush each year. Most of this crop is exported to countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and the USA.
Most of the honeybush tea (about 70%) is still collected from wild populations , but cultivation has become necessary with the rapid growth of the industry. In 1998, a group of farmers formed the South African Honeybush Producers Association (SAHPA). In the spring of 2001, the first large scale South African plantation dedicated to honeybush began operation in the town of Haarlem. The farm is the result of a joint partnership between South Africa and the U.S. (one of the larger customers, next to Japan and Canada). The goal is to develop a successful cooperative farm operated by local farmers who will cultivate 100,000 or more honeybush plants. Based on a successful start of the Haarlem plantation, other cultivation projects started in Ericaville, Groendal and Genadendal.
International interest in honeybush is traced back to the tea trade of the Dutch and the British. The honeybush plant had been noted in botanical literature by 1705. It was soon recognized by the colonists as a suitable substitute for ordinary tea. In King's American Dispensatory of 1898, under the heading of tea, honeybush is already listed as a substitute, with reference to a report from 1881 indicating use of honeybush as a tea in the Cape Colony of South Africa. The native tribes of the South African Cape were also using the tea for treatment of coughs and other upper respiratory symptoms associated with infections. The earliest evidence of scientific research, however – when scientists documented that this herbal drink is caffeine free – comes from 1881.
Commercial supplies of honeybush are mainly obtained from Cyclopia intermedia and to a lesser extent from Cyclopia subternata, though there are 23 species of Cyclopia identified in this narrow region of South Africa. Most of the species have very limited distribution ranges and unique habitat preferences. Some are restricted to mountain peaks, perennial streams, marshy areas, shale bands, and wet southern slopes. It appears that all the Cyclopia species are suitable for making tea, but the taste quality can vary, and some species exist in very small quantities.
South Africa’s honeybush industry is still very young and produces only about 200 tonnes of honeybush each year. Most of this crop is exported to countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, the UK and the USA.
Most of the honeybush tea (about 70%) is still collected from wild populations , but cultivation has become necessary with the rapid growth of the industry. In 1998, a group of farmers formed the South African Honeybush Producers Association (SAHPA). In the spring of 2001, the first large scale South African plantation dedicated to honeybush began operation in the town of Haarlem. The farm is the result of a joint partnership between South Africa and the U.S. (one of the larger customers, next to Japan and Canada). The goal is to develop a successful cooperative farm operated by local farmers who will cultivate 100,000 or more honeybush plants. Based on a successful start of the Haarlem plantation, other cultivation projects started in Ericaville, Groendal and Genadendal.
International interest in honeybush is traced back to the tea trade of the Dutch and the British. The honeybush plant had been noted in botanical literature by 1705. It was soon recognized by the colonists as a suitable substitute for ordinary tea. In King's American Dispensatory of 1898, under the heading of tea, honeybush is already listed as a substitute, with reference to a report from 1881 indicating use of honeybush as a tea in the Cape Colony of South Africa. The native tribes of the South African Cape were also using the tea for treatment of coughs and other upper respiratory symptoms associated with infections. The earliest evidence of scientific research, however – when scientists documented that this herbal drink is caffeine free – comes from 1881.
Uses
Honeybush tea has no caffeine and very little tannin but it is rich in antioxidants, so it's a great tea to have on hand in your kitchen. It's a soothing drink to have anytime.
A cup of Honeybush tea is brewed in the same way as you would any other type of tea. It enhances in flavor the more time you allow it to brew.
Even though it's an herbal tea, it tastes good with milk, but it tastes good on its own too. People usually drink it hot but it makes a great summer drink served cold with ice and lemon.
Kids love it because it tastes good and it's sweet, as the name implies. Especially in the hot weather, kids want lots to drink and this is a far better option than soda.
It is particularly popular in Japan, Germany and Switzerland where people are very interested in drinks that are healthy.
It can also be used as a base for sauces and marinades, and/or enhance natural flavors when combined with any vegetable stew or casserole. With its delicious flavor and many uses & benefits, Honeybush tea is a must have in any household.
A cup of Honeybush tea is brewed in the same way as you would any other type of tea. It enhances in flavor the more time you allow it to brew.
Kids love it because it tastes good and it's sweet, as the name implies. Especially in the hot weather, kids want lots to drink and this is a far better option than soda.
It is particularly popular in Japan, Germany and Switzerland where people are very interested in drinks that are healthy.
It can also be used as a base for sauces and marinades, and/or enhance natural flavors when combined with any vegetable stew or casserole. With its delicious flavor and many uses & benefits, Honeybush tea is a must have in any household.
The science behind the sweet
One of its early recognized benefits as a tea substitute is its lack of caffeine, which makes it especially suited for nighttime consumption and for those who experience nervousness and want to avoid ordinary tea. As a result, it had a reputation as a calming beverage, though it may not have any specific sedative properties. It also has a low content of tannins, so it doesn't make a highly astringent tea, which can be a problem with some grades of black or green tea or when ordinary tea is steeped too long.
Scientific analysis of your typical cup of Honeybush reveals an impressive range of minerals needed for good health; such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, and Boron. The traditional use of the honeybush tea for treating cough may be explained, in part, by its content of pinitol, a modified sugar that is similar to inositol. Pinitol, named for its major source, pine trees, is also found in the leaves of several legume plants; it is an expectorant. Pinitol is also of interest for apparent blood-sugar lowering effects, as demonstrated in laboratory animal studies (it may increase the effects of insulin), and is being considered as a drug for diabetes. Researchers also started unravelling its complex chemical make-up and found clues that it could help relieve menopause-related symptoms and protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Honeybush contains flavones, isoflavones, coumestans, luteolin, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, polyphenols, and xanthones. These ingredients serve as antioxidants, those free-radical fighters which slow the ageing process of the body's cells. The major anti-oxidant in honeybush is mangiferin, a compound that is also found in mango, but otherwise uncommon in our diet. The isoflavones and coumestans are classified as phytoestrogens, used in the treatment of menopause symptoms, an application for which honeybush has recently been promoted. The flavones and isoflavones of honeybush are similar to those in soy, another plant, also used in treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Recent scientific studies on Honeybush are not extensive enough to make any far- reaching medical claims; however, Honeybush tea is believed to have anti-carcinogenic (cancer-fighting), anti-fungal, antispasmodic and anti-depressant properties. It may also repair sun damage, aid digestion, even stimulate milk production in nursing mothers.
To enjoy this amazing drink and all its benefits Click Here.
Scientific analysis of your typical cup of Honeybush reveals an impressive range of minerals needed for good health; such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Zinc, Manganese, Iron, and Boron. The traditional use of the honeybush tea for treating cough may be explained, in part, by its content of pinitol, a modified sugar that is similar to inositol. Pinitol, named for its major source, pine trees, is also found in the leaves of several legume plants; it is an expectorant. Pinitol is also of interest for apparent blood-sugar lowering effects, as demonstrated in laboratory animal studies (it may increase the effects of insulin), and is being considered as a drug for diabetes. Researchers also started unravelling its complex chemical make-up and found clues that it could help relieve menopause-related symptoms and protect post-menopausal women against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Honeybush contains flavones, isoflavones, coumestans, luteolin, 4-hydroxycinnamic acid, polyphenols, and xanthones. These ingredients serve as antioxidants, those free-radical fighters which slow the ageing process of the body's cells. The major anti-oxidant in honeybush is mangiferin, a compound that is also found in mango, but otherwise uncommon in our diet. The isoflavones and coumestans are classified as phytoestrogens, used in the treatment of menopause symptoms, an application for which honeybush has recently been promoted. The flavones and isoflavones of honeybush are similar to those in soy, another plant, also used in treatment of menopausal symptoms.
Recent scientific studies on Honeybush are not extensive enough to make any far- reaching medical claims; however, Honeybush tea is believed to have anti-carcinogenic (cancer-fighting), anti-fungal, antispasmodic and anti-depressant properties. It may also repair sun damage, aid digestion, even stimulate milk production in nursing mothers.
To enjoy this amazing drink and all its benefits Click Here.
