The world’s biggest coffee shop chain, Starbucks introduced Rooibos Lattes to it's Spring menu and it's a hit.
Starbucks’ Rooibos Lattes come in two variants: Rooibos Tea Latte and Red Apple Rooibos Tea Latte.
The drinks are described as “luxurious” and are made by using a new method to extract maximum flavour from the tea, which took the company two years to perfect.
The much-anticipated Rooibos lattes were rolled out to 950 stores across the UK – one of the biggest tea-drinking markets in the world.
Spokesperson for the SA Rooibos Council, Adele du Toit says it’s a real thrill to have Rooibos feature so prominently on Starbucks’ UK menus and speaks to the growing popularity of the tea and demand for health-promoting beverages worldwide.
“In a region where a whopping 60 billion cups of tea are consumed each year, with over 1 200 varieties to choose from, it’s a big deal for Rooibos to have been given the nod by the Brits,” she says.
Starbucks’ Rooibos Lattes - pic supplied
There is a lot of innovation happening in the Rooibos tea category and marketers are exploring with lots of different mixes and product offerings. Ready-to-drink tea products, such as Rooibos Cappuccinos and Rooibos Lattes are at the forefront of this growth as they fit squarely into the time-crunched, but health-seeking lifestyle of consumers.
Personalised hot beverages is another emerging trend, for example, consumers could select a Rooibos chocolate-, spice- or fruit infusion, while further toppings can be added to create a bespoke product that matches a customer’s personality or mood at any given time.
South Africa currently exports Rooibos tea to over 30 countries, including the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and US. It is exclusively grown in the Cederberg area of the Western Cape and is arguably one of SA’s best exports.
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