About Carmién Tea
When Was Carmién Tea Founded?
Carmién Tea was founded in 1998 by Mientjie Mouton. Carmién has been selling rooibos tea on the international and South African markets in bulk and packed forms ever since.
Can You Provide Sourcing Details for Your Teas?
We pride ourselves on being transparent, offering our customers full traceability from crop to cup.
Does Carmién Tea Conform to British Retail Consortium Global Standards (BRCGS)?
Yes, Carmién Tea is fully-certified by the BRCGS regulating body.
Is Carmién Tea Fair Trade Certified?
Yes, we are committed to the well-being of our staff and local community. Bergendal Rooibos, our packing and processing facility, is 50% worker-owned. Find out more about our Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.
Is Carmién Tea Rainforest Alliance Certified?
Yes, we are committed to sustainability and are certified as a Rainforest Alliance partner.
Do You Sell Organic Rooibos Tea?
Yes, we are certified according to USDA, JAS and EcoCert European standards to sell organic rooibos. Find out more here.
Do You Sell Green Rooibos Tea?
Yes, find out more about Green Rooibos here.
Do You Sell Honeybush Tea?
Yes, we offer honeybush in fermented and unfermented (green) varieties.
About Rooibos
What is The Difference Between Red Rooibos and Green Rooibos?
Traditionally, rooibos undergoes a process of fermentation that activates phenolic activity in the plant material and gives rooibos its distinctive red colour. Green rooibos is dried rapidly before the oxidation process takes place, which captures the green colour and gives it a more vegetal flavour. Learn more about Green Rooibos here.
Does Rooibos Have Product of Designated Origin Status?
Rooibos was awarded Product of Designated Origin (PDO) status in 2021, making it the first South African non-wine ingredient to be awarded Geographical Indication (GI) status.
What is the difference between Rooibos and Honeybush?
Rooibos is made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant, while Honeybush is made from the leaves of the Cyclopia intermedia plant. Rooibos leaves have a needle-like appearance and produce a deep red liquor when steeped. Honeybush leaves are shorter and thicker and produce a red-gold infusion when steeped. In terms of flavour, Honeybush is sweeter and fuller-bodied than Rooibos, with earthy undertones, while Rooibos has a profile flavour marked by notes of caramel, wood and nuts.
Does Rooibos Contain Caffeine?
No, rooibos is naturally caffeine-free.
Is Rooibos Safe to Drink During Pregnancy?
While Rooibos is generally considered a good alternative to caffeinated teas during pregnancy, we suggest speaking to your GP or midwife if you have concerns about drinking teas or herbal infusions during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.
Does Rooibos Grow Anywhere Else in The World?
Rooibos is indigenous to the Cederberg Region of South Africa and was awarded GI Geographical Indicator and PDO Protected Designation of Origin status by the EU. Read more here.
Production and Processing
Where is Carmién Tea’s production facility located?
Bergendal Rooibos is the exclusive Rooibos drying, pasteurizing, and packing facility for Carmién Tea, situated on the Piekenierskloof mountain range near Citrusdal.
Is the facility owned and operated by Carmién Tea?
Bergendal Rooibos is the exclusive processing plant for Carmién Tea, a shareholder in which approximately 100 farm workers hold 50% shares.
Can clients or third-party auditors visit or inspect Carmién Tea’s facility?
We are open for client visits and audits, as well as visits from third-party auditors. We take food safety very seriously, with strict processes and QC protocols that we are very proud of.
Do all Carmién Tea/Bergendal Rooibos employees undergo formal training programs?
Yes, we have a training matrix that we follow each year. We are passionate about training, career development, and continually improving our knowledge and that of our employees.
Does Carmién Tea have a dedicated Research & Development (R&D) department?
Yes, we have an R&D team as well as a trained sensory evaluation team, allowing us to continue innovating, creating new products, and providing our customers with what they want and need. We have a fully trained team of food technologists, comprising food scientists and product development specialists.
Does Carmién Tea maintain product specifications for everything it produces?
Because we have a stringent food safety management system, as well as BRCGS and HACCP certifications in place, we do have detailed product specifications for all our products. All recipes, food safety systems, documentation, and QA provisions are verified annually, maintaining the integrity of our Quality Assurance programme.
Are there Standard Operating Procedures for all activities at Carmién Tea?
All processing, packing, and quality processes fall under our BRC food safety system, which is managed by Bergendal Rooibos.
Does Carmién Tea have quality assurance systems in place?
Yes. All Carmién Tea processing and packing fall under the BRC-certified food safety system at Bergendal Rooibos. We follow a documented change management process, apply statistical process controls, and consistently deliver high-quality products. Foreign material risks are managed through a comprehensive, flow-based risk assessment, ensuring product integrity throughout the production process.
Does Carmién Tea have a traceability system for ingredients, raw materials, and finished products?
Yes. Carmién Tea maintains a comprehensive traceability system that tracks ingredients, raw materials, and finished products through every stage of the production process. This system enables real-time tracking, batch-level identification, and rapid response in the event of a recall or quality investigation, supporting both food safety compliance and supply chain transparency.
Does Carmién Tea retain product samples for quality monitoring?
Yes. Carmién Tea retains reference samples of each production batch as part of its quality assurance program. These samples are stored under controlled conditions and used for ongoing quality monitoring, verification, and traceability, ensuring consistent product standards and compliance with food safety requirements.
Is Carmién Tea compliant with all national and local regulations, including environmental and safety laws?
Yes. Carmién Tea operates under the compliance framework of Bergendal Rooibos, which adheres to all applicable national and local regulations, including environmental, health, and safety legislation.
What certifications does Carmién Tea currently hold?
BRCGS, Rainforest Alliance, Kosher, Halal, Fairtrade, and Vegan.
How does Carmién Tea prevent raw material contamination or damage during storage?
Carmién Tea follows strict hygiene protocols and stores all raw herbal materials in a controlled cold storage environment. A robust traceability and inventory management system ensures product integrity throughout the storage cycle. Carmién also has strict hygiene protocols in place for employees working with the product, as well as documented sanitation procedures.
Are common allergens used or stored at Carmién Tea’s facility (e.g., nuts, dairy, wheat)?
No. Carmién Tea operates a non-allergen facility, with no common allergens such as nuts, dairy, or wheat used or stored on site. We also have a strict allergen control programme in place.
Orders and Logistics
What is the typical lead time for orders?
Lead times can vary depending on product type, customization, and destination. For precise lead time estimates, we recommend contacting Carmién Tea directly to discuss your specific requirements and timelines.
Does Carmién Tea offer international shipping?
Yes. Carmién Tea exports Rooibos to countries globally, including major markets such as Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, France, and the USA.
What are the minimum order quantities (MOQs)?
Minimum order quantities may vary depending on the product format and packaging requirements. For detailed MOQ information, please reach out to the Carmién Tea sales team to align with your distribution needs.
Can Carmién Tea accommodate custom packaging or labelling requests?
Yes. Carmién Tea operates at the packer-brander level, with capabilities to grade and customise products by length, colour, flavour, and aroma. This includes support for custom packaging and labelling to suit various market or brand specifications.
How is order tracking and shipping documentation handled?
All shipments are tracked through our logistics partners, and Carmién Tea provides full documentation, including invoices, packing lists, certificates of analysis, and export declarations prior to dispatch.
My order is delayed, what should I do now?
If your order is delayed, please feel free to get in touch. They will provide you with an update on the shipment status and assist in resolving any issues promptly. Be sure to have your order number and delivery details on hand to expedite the process.