Grades and Cuts
Rooibos Grades and Cuts
Cultivar: Aspalathus Linearis
Carmién Tea produces high-quality Rooibos with a strong focus on consistency and customer needs. We tailor our product range to match specific customer needs. Our offering includes a variety of Rooibos cuts, each with its own composition and taste profile, ideal for everything from teabags and loose-leaf products to extracts and blends. Our skilled team follows strict quality control procedures at every step. We test and evaluate each batch to make sure it meets our high standards. All our Rooibos is processed in a facility certified under FSSC 22000, HACCP, and Organic standards (EU, USDA, JAS).
These certifications ensure food safety and product integrity across all cuts and formats.
Rooibos Super Fine Cut (SFC)
The finest tea cut; 0.5mm - 2mm; strong cup infusion; typical sweet aroma with slightly more astringency; also known as a ‘teabag’ cut. Used for retail packaging. Volumetric density varies from 300 ml/100 g to 360 ml/100 g.
Granules can be added to better the density, should it be necessary.
Rooibos Short Cut (SC)
A slightly coarser cut than SFC; 0.5 mm - 2.5 mm; smooth; typical sweet aroma; amber cup infusion, and mainly sold for certain packed tea products when blended with other herbs and/or fruit teas.
Rooibos Long Cut (LC)
A longer tea leaf cut; 3mm - 6mm and uniform in cut size; smooth; typical sweet amber cup, and mainly sold as ‘loose’ tea but also an excellent base for blended (loose) fruit & herbal teas in pyramid teabags.
Choice Grade (CH)
Irregular cut size, available in a coarser or finer ‘teabag’ cut; contains more stem; finer cut mainly used for teabags and the coarser cut for (tagless) teabags or pyramid teabags, where coarser cuts beautifully display the visual elements of the ingredients.
Recycle Grade (REC)
These are customised grades prepared from a certain percentage re-worked products according to customers' preferences.
Rooibos Powder (DUST)
The very fine powder sifted out during processing from all grades; also used for manufacturing of espresso mixes and granulates. Rich in flavour and high in density.
Rooibos Micro Powder
Finely milled rooibos powder used in smoothies, shakes, over cereal or for culinary uses; does not dissolve completely in liquids.
Green Rooibos Grades and Cuts
Cultivar: Aspalathus Linearis
Green Rooibos is unfermented, thus have not gone through the fermentation (oxidation) process, which turns the green leaves into a red/brown colour. It is therefore also higher in antioxidants with increased benefit. The pH levels of unfermented Rooibos is slightly higher than fermented Rooibos.
Green Rooibos Super Fine Cut (SFC)
Typical light cup infusion; 0.5mm - 2mm; green taste with caramel notes; can be used for ‘teabag’ packing; density is usually less than that of fermented red rooibos tea.
Green Rooibos Long Cut (LC)
Light cup infusion; 3mm - 6mm; green taste with caramel notes; used and mainly sold as ‘loose’ tea, but also an excellent base for blended (loose) fruit and herbal teas.
Green Rooibos Powder (DUST)
The very fine powder sifted out during processing from all grades; also used for manufacturing of espresso mixes and granulates; rich in flavour and high in density.
Green Rooibos Micro Powder
Finely milled rooibos powder used in smoothies, shakes, over cereal or for culinary uses; does not dissolve completely in liquids.
Honeybush Grades and Cuts
Cultivar: A blend of Honeybush cultivars including Cyclopia Intermedia, Cyclopia Subternata, Cyclopia Genistoides, Cyclopia Sessiliflora and Cyclopia Longifolia.
Honeybush is also a unique, naturally caffeine-free herbal tea from South Africa, grown more towards the South West and Eastern Coast Districts of South Africa. The flowers of the Honeybush shrub have a honeylike smell, hence the name. Honeybush is sweeter and fuller-bodied than Rooibos, with a taste often described as floral, lightly roasted and similar to honey. It is made from Cyclopia species, with Cyclopia subternata (vleitee) and Cyclopia genistoides (kustee) being the most common commercially cultivated varieties, while Cyclopia intermedia (bergtee) is most often used in wild harvesting.
Unfermented Green Honeybush has not undergone the fermentation process that gives it its distinct red colour. Therefore, it is also higher in antioxidants, with increased health benefits. The pH levels of unfermented Honeybush are slightly higher than those of fermented Honeybush.
Honeybush Super Fine Cut (SFC)
Honeybush is a full bodied herbal tea with spicy notes; 0.5mm - 2mm; the different cultivars have different flavour profiles and a blend ensures best consistency; the fine cut is used for ‘teabag’ packaging.
Honeybush Coarse Cut (CC)
Though fermented, has a light cup infusion with a full body flavour profile; used and mainly sold as ‘loose’ tea but also an excellent base for blended (loose) fruit & herbal teas; used in pyramid teabags and loose blends.
Green Honeybush Super Fine Cut (SFC)
Light cup infusion; 0.5mm - 2mm; full smooth flavour profile; can be used for teabag packaging.
Green Honeybush Coarse Cut (CC)
Light cup infusion still with a full smooth flavour profile; 0.5 mm- 2.5 mm; used and mainly sold as ‘loose’ tea, but also an excellent base for blended (loose) fruit & herbal teas; used in pyramid teabags and loose blends.
Buchu Grades and Cuts
Cultivar: Agathosma betulina (Round-leaf Buchu)
Buchu is a medicinal plant that grows in the Cederberg region of South Africa. It has been used for centuries to help with kidney, bladder, and joint problems. Today, it is made into teas, waters, oils, and capsules. Buchu is a natural anti-inflammatory and diuretic, helping to flush out toxins and support overall health. It can be used for conditions like arthritis, high blood pressure, and urinary infections. Buchu also has a fresh, herbal taste and is sometimes added to food, drinks, and perfumes. It is grown as part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a protected biodiversity area.
Buchu Fine Cut (SFC)
Made from air-dried leaves and stalks of the Buchu plant, milled and sieved to a uniform size ideal for tea bag packing. This grade offers a consistent particle size with a balanced mix of leaf and stem, perfect for large-scale tea production.
Whole Round-Leaf Buchu
Consists of air-dried leaves with most of the stalks removed during processing. This clean, high-quality cut is ideal for tea blends, infusions, and bulk packaging.