Our Story

Where it all began

Carmién Tea’s story started in 1998 in an old farm shop near the small town of Citrusdal in South Africa. Located on the foothills of the Western Cape’s splendid Cederberg Mountains, the farm falls within the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor.

The founder and now managing director, Mientjie Mouton grew up on a rooibos producing farm just a little higher up in the same valley before moving to Brakfontein Estate where rooibos was also produced. She saw great potential in the product rooibos and today the Carmién brand tells this story.

THE ROOIBOS INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA

Since the deregulation of the Rooibos industry in 1993, Carmién Tea has established itself as producer and supplier of quality packaged retail Rooibos tea products in South Africa. The company is also a successful bulk tea exporter and private label packer to many countries around the globe. Carmién Tea secures the best quality organic and conventional Rooibos from prime growing areas such as Piekenierskloof, Nieuwoudville, Wupperthal and Gifberg. The Carmién Rooibos range is available in organic (bio) and/or regular (conventional) products and is produced on Fairtrade principles. Carmién Tea offers superior quality products at competitive prices, direct from the farm to their customers whilst ensuring total food traceability in the food chain.

OUR COMMUNITEA

Since 2001, Carmién Tea is also a vehicle of empowerment aiming to provide sustainable jobs and broad-based wealth creation for their farmworkers as an independent marketing company. Strategic partnerships with like-minded commercial and Fairtrade producers, e.g. Bergendal Farming Operations, led to the foundation of Bergendal Rooibos in 2006. Bergendal Rooibos is the exclusive Rooibos drying, pasteurising and packing facility for Carmién Tea. Our partnership with Bergendal Worker Trust as well as with the Mouton Workers Trust, Emgro ensure that 626 workers with about 5000 dependants have a shareholding in any Carmién Tea product. Carmién Tea actively supports community development on shareholder’s farms. The company furthermore is committed to women- and childcare in the broader community through its partnership with Ubuntu Citrusdal.

GROWING GOODNESS

The Carmién tagline ‘Growing Goodness’ refers to the commitment to always deliver a product that is of the highest quality and exceed the expectations of our clients across the globe. The entire process from growing the product in the fields to developing the best taste and flavour are all controlled by strict processes and measures. In order to keep the consistent quality and best flavor we adhere to the following certifications and get audited by all of these certification bodies on a regular basis.

In May 2021 Rooibos became the first African food to receive the status of geographical indication (GIs), Regulation (EU)No 1151/2012, granting it the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO). Read more here.

Our Promise

Carmién is committed to the well-being of its workforce and local communities.

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Carmién is committed to products of superior quality, freshness and exeptional taste.

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Carmién is committed to the health and well-being of its customers and their loved-ones.

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Carmién is committed to keeping its farms and work methods earth-friendly and safe.