How To Grow Rooibos Tea

Rooibos tea comes from a South African plant called Aspalathus linearis. It is a legume that grows as a shrub up to 6 feet high with needle-like leaves and small, yellow flowers. Rooibos plants are hardy in USDA Zone 9 and above and will tolerate some frost. The leaves and small stems are used to make rooibos tea after being fermented and dried.

Step 1

Cover rooibos seeds with just boiled water and leave them to soak overnight prior to sowing in early spring.

Step 2

Plant the seeds in a seed tray containing a 50 percent mixture of potting compost and sharp sand or perlite. Bury the seeds at a depth of two-fifths of an inch. Keep the compost damp but not soaking and place the tray in a warm spot such as a greenhouse or south-facing windowsill.

Step 3

Transfer the seedlings into individual pots once they are large enough to handle. Plant in an acidic, peat-based compost mixed with 50 percent sharp sand. Place the pots in a bright, warm place with some direct sunshine.

Step 4

Plant rooibos outdoors after the seedlings have been growing for a year. Choose a sunny site with acidic, well-drained soil. Do not fertilize rooibos, as it thrives in poor soils. In colder areas, rooibos plants can be grown in large pots in a greenhouse and moved out into the garden during the summer.

Step 5

Propagate your rooibos plants by taking semi-woody cuttings in early spring and planting them in sand or well-drained compost in a humid, warm spot such as a greenhouse.

Step 6

Harvest the leaves and fine branches after 12 to 18 months of growth. Chop the leaves finely and soak with water. Leave in a heap in a warm place or in the sun to sweat and ferment until the heap has turned a rich, red color. Spread out the heap to allow the leaves to dry.