It was the locals of the area who first discovered that the fine, needle-like leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant could be used to make an aromatic sweet and flavoursome drink.

The local people harvested the wild-growing Redbush plants, cut and bruised the plants using axes and hammers. Then would leave them to ferment in heaps, before drying them in the hot African sun. Today Redbush is still processed in a similar way!

Redbush was well-known to the people of the indigenous tribes around Cedarberg and was used as a herbal remedy for an assortment of ailments. However as the tribe people moved away the traditional herbal drink was forgotten.

Then at the turn of the 20th century Benjamin Ginsberg a Russian pioneer, tried Redbush and decided it was so great he would market this sweet "mountain tea". So Benjamin began to trade Redbush from the local people. Following some setbacks due to the first and second world wars the Redbush industry is now growing rapidly and this fantastic product is now enjoyed in many countries around the world.