A staple of every South African kitchen cabinet, rooibos is garnering international attention after being awarded the European Union’s protected designation of origin (PDO) status in 2021. Rooibos is the first African food to receive PDO certification and join the ranks of Parmigiano Reggiano, Nürnberger Glühwein, buffalo mozzarella, Dutch gouda, champagne and even Latvian big grey peas. Rooibos is only farmed in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape and although there have been attempts to grow it elsewhere, the climate and soil conditions are just not conducive. Since receiving this certification, farms in the Cederberg region are reporting an influx of international tourists.
SOURCE: GETAWAY
