Requesting a Rooibos Quote? Here’s What Your Supplier Needs to Know

“Can you quote us for Rooibos?”

It’s a question we’re always happy to help with!

Before we put a quotation together, though, we’d love to learn a little more about what you have in mind. Are you looking for bulk Rooibos, developing your own private-label range or interested in an established branded product? Do you have a particular grade, certification or packaging format in mind?

These details help us understand what you’re looking for and how best to meet your needs. After all, Rooibos can be used in many different ways, and the right product depends on your application, your market and your business requirements.

At Carmién Tea, our knowledge of Rooibos extends from growing and sourcing to processing, grading, blending, packing and export. We’d love to put that experience to work for you.

So, let’s look at the details that help us prepare a meaningful quotation, and how a little information upfront can make the process easier for everyone.

1. What kind of Rooibos product are you looking for?

Let’s start with the basics. Are you looking for bulk Rooibos, private-label products or an established branded range?

Each option has its own considerations, including product specifications, order quantities, packaging and product development.

Not quite sure which option would suit your business best? That’s absolutely fine. Tell us a little about what you’re hoping to achieve, and we can explore the possibilities together.

2. How will you be using the Rooibos?

For bulk Rooibos, understanding your intended application helps us identify a grade and specification that may work well for your product.

Will you be packing it as a pure tea, using it in teabags, incorporating it into a flavoured blend or adding it to another food or beverage product?

Rooibos is graded according to characteristics such as particle size distribution and density, colour and flavour (South African Rooibos Council, n.d.). Particle size, leaf-to-stem composition and other characteristics can also influence the product’s appearance, flavour profile and suitability for a particular application.

A grade that works beautifully in one product may not be the best fit for another.

Sometimes, the grade you’ve requested will be exactly right. In other cases, talking through your application may reveal another option that better suits your processing requirements, finished product or budget.

That’s where our experience can help. By understanding what you want to achieve, we can share our knowledge and help you consider the options available – always with your requirements in mind.

3. Which certifications does your market require?

If you’re supplying a particular market or retailer, certification may be an important part of your purchasing decision. Depending on your requirements, you may need:

One thing worth keeping in mind is that a supplier holding a certification doesn’t automatically mean every product they offer qualifies for the same claim. Certification scope can depend on the product, ingredients, processing activities and supply chain.

At Carmién Tea, we hold both Fairtrade and Rainforest Alliance certifications, as well as organic certifications covering the EU, USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS). Organic import and labelling requirements do, however, vary between markets, so the applicable certification and product scope should always be checked for your destination. International guidance likewise emphasises the importance of meeting the relevant standards for organic production, processing, labelling and marketing (Codex Alimentarius Commission, 1999).

If you have specific certification requirements, please let us know early on. It helps us establish which options may be suitable and identify anything that needs clarification before an order is placed.

4. What packaging, flavours or blends do you have in mind?

If you’re looking for a packed product, we’d love to know how you’d like it to reach your customers.

Perhaps you’re considering loose-leaf Rooibos, pillow teabags, pyramid teabags, envelopes or retail cartons. Let us know your preferred pack size and any packaging, artwork or labelling requirements. We can also guide you through the packaging formats available at Carmién Tea and help you explore which options best suit your product and market.

If you’re developing a flavoured tea or custom blend, a product brief, ingredient list, reference sample or existing specification can be a great starting point.

You may already know exactly which flavour profile you’re after, or you may still be exploring ideas for a new range. Either way, telling us about your target customer, product positioning and price point helps us understand what you’re working towards.

You don’t need to have every detail figured out. Sometimes, a conversation is all it takes to get the ideas flowing.

5. What quantities are you planning?

Order quantities and purchasing frequency help us understand your requirements and assess the most practical production options.

For bulk Rooibos, let us know your estimated quantity and whether you’re planning an occasional order, regular pallet shipments or container loads.

For private-label products, it’s helpful to know the expected quantity for each product and packaging format.

Minimum order quantities can be influenced by packaging supplier requirements, production-line setup and cleaning, changeovers and manufacturing efficiency. As a result, the minimum quantity for a finished private-label product may differ from that for bulk Rooibos.

Even if you’re still working out your volumes, an estimate gives us something to work with. And if your planned quantity is below the usual minimum, don’t hesitate to tell us. It’s better to discuss this at the beginning so we can establish whether another approach may be possible.

6. Where are the goods going, and how would you like them delivered?

A quotation needs to cover more than the product itself. We also need to understand how the goods will get to you.

Please share your destination country and, where relevant, the delivery address or port. Your preferred Incoterm (such as FOB, CFR or DAP) is also important.

Incoterms® clarify the responsibilities of buyers and sellers, including delivery obligations and the allocation of costs and risks (International Chamber of Commerce, 2019). Specifying the applicable Incoterm and named place or port helps everyone understand what the quotation includes.

For example, an FOB quotation and a delivered-price quotation aren’t directly comparable without taking the additional freight costs and responsibilities into account.

Your destination may also affect import requirements, product registrations, labelling and export documentation. If your customer or market requires particular documents, certificates or approvals, please let us know as early as possible.

The more we understand upfront, the easier it is to work towards a quotation that reflects your actual requirements.

7. Is there anything else we should know?

Every business has its own requirements, and sometimes it’s the smaller details that make the biggest difference.

You may have a specific moisture limit, microbiological specification, shelf-life requirement or packaging configuration. Perhaps your customer has a quality questionnaire, or you’re working towards a product launch date or target price.

If you have an existing product specification or purchasing brief, please share it with us. It can save time and help us understand exactly what’s needed.

We’d also encourage you to tell us about your priorities. Some requirements are non-negotiable, while others may leave room to explore alternatives.

Understanding the difference helps us focus on what matters most to you and work towards a solution that makes sense for your business.

Why the right Rooibos matters more than price alone

Price is naturally an important part of any purchasing decision. But the lowest quotation doesn’t always offer the best value.

A grade that isn’t suited to your application, packaging that doesn’t meet your needs or a product that falls short of your market’s certification and documentation requirements can lead to complications and additional costs later.

When comparing quotations, it’s worth looking at the full picture: product characteristics, quality requirements, certification, packaging, order quantities, delivery terms and any customer-specific obligations.

The right Rooibos isn’t necessarily the cheapest Rooibos. It’s the grade, specification and format that meet your needs for the price you’re paying.

Sometimes, that means confirming that your original request is exactly right. Other times, it means exploring an alternative that may work better for your application.

Either way, a little discussion before the quotation can help you make a more informed decision and avoid surprises further down the line.

Your Rooibos quotation checklist

If you’re preparing to contact a supplier, here’s a handy checklist to help you get started.

☑️ Product type: Bulk, private label or branded Rooibos.

☑️ Application: How you’ll be using the Rooibos.

☑️ Grade and specification: Required characteristics or an existing product specification.

☑️ Certification: Organic, Fairtrade, Rainforest Alliance, Halal, Kosher or other applicable requirements.

☑️ Format and packaging: Loose leaf, teabags, envelopes, cartons, pack size and other packaging needs.

☑️ Flavours and blends: Preferred flavour profile, ingredients or product brief.

☑️ Volume: Estimated order quantity and purchasing frequency.

☑️ Destination and Incoterm: Where the goods need to go and the preferred delivery arrangement.

☑️ Documentation: Any customer-specific, quality, regulatory or import requirements.

☑️ Timing: Your expected order or launch date.

Don’t worry if you don’t have every answer yet. Even a rough outline of what you’re looking for gives us a good place to start.

A good Rooibos quotation starts with a conversation

At Carmién Tea, Rooibos is more than a product on a price list. Our work extends from growing and sourcing in the Cederberg to processing, grading, blending, packing and export. That experience helps us understand the product and the practical considerations involved in supplying it to different markets.

Just as importantly, we know that every buyer has different goals, challenges and priorities.

Whether you’re sourcing bulk Rooibos, developing a private-label range or looking for branded products, we’d love to hear what you’re working towards and help you find the right fit.

So, if we ask a few questions before preparing your quotation, please know that it’s because we want to get it right with you.

We’d rather take a little time to understand your needs now than discover later that an important detail was missed.

Because a good supplier doesn’t simply quote what was requested. They bring their knowledge to the conversation, help you explore the options and work with you to find the right product for the job.

Looking for a Rooibos sourcing partner? Explore Carmién’s Rooibos solutions or contact our team to discuss your requirements.

Rooted in the Cederberg. Growing around the world. 🌱

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References:

• Codex Alimentarius Commission (1999) Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods. CXG 32-1999. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and World Health Organization. Available at: https://www.fao.org/input/download/standards/360/cxg_032e.pdf (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
• International Chamber of Commerce (2019) Incoterms® 2020. Paris: International Chamber of Commerce. Available at: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/ (Accessed: 12 October 2026).
• South African Rooibos Council (n.d.) Frequently Asked Questions. Available at: https://sarooibos.co.za/frequently-asked-questions/ (Accessed: 12 October 2026).