Rooted in the Cederberg

At Skimmelberg, our work begins long before a kettle boils

It begins in mountain light, in fynbos-scented air, and in the living soils of the Cederberg. We are a family-owned company, deeply rooted in our local community, and our story has been shaped over generations by two extraordinary plants: Buchu and Rooibos.

Because we are both growers and processors, we remain close to every step of the journey. From the slopes of Skimmelberg Mountain to the final packed tea or distilled oil, we are able to safeguard quality, authenticity, and care. If you would like to understand more about the values that guide us, you can read Our Story.

Why the Cederberg matters

Our farms lie within the Cederberg region of the Western Cape, part of the Cape Floral Kingdom, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the smallest yet richest of the world's floral kingdoms. Here, fynbos is the principal vegetation type: intricate, species-rich, and unlike anything else on earth. It is within this remarkable landscape that both Buchu and Rooibos occur naturally.

These are not plants we imported into a convenient farming system. Buchu and Rooibos are endemic to this region. They belong here. They have evolved with this mountain climate, these soils, these slopes, and this ecological rhythm. On our farms, both species occur naturally on the slopes of Skimmelberg Mountain, and that sense of place is part of what gives our products their identity.

Our logo carries another symbol of that belonging: the Protea Magnifica, or Queen Protea. It is the second-largest Protea species, and its presence on our farm Waterval marks the westernmost occurrence of this species in the fynbos biome. It grows on the peak of Skimmelberg Mountain, reminding us that a brand should stand for more than commerce. It should stand for place, stewardship, and continuity.

From wild harvesting to sustainable cultivation

Buchu has been harvested in the wild on our farms for nearly a hundred years. Rooibos joined Buchu more recently as a crop, but today both are cultivated sustainably to ensure a reliable supply while protecting wild populations. That balance matters to us. We do not believe abundance should come at the cost of ecological loss.

Our experience has been gained over generations, and that long view changes how we farm. We are not interested in short-term extraction. We are interested in leaving healthy landscapes behind us. That is why we actively promote biodiversity-friendly farming methods and have adopted regenerative practices that work with nature rather than against it.

What regenerative farming looks like on our farms

Organic farming is important, but for us it is only the beginning. Regenerative farming asks deeper questions: how do we build soil life, protect water, support pollinators, and strengthen the resilience of the broader ecosystem? On our farms, that commitment is practical and daily.

We use organic liquid fertilizer made as compost tea through vermicomposting. We use carbon-neutral fuel in our essential oil distillation plant. Our organic products have achieved CERES certification, meeting some of the highest international standards. We also subscribe to the aims of the Greater Cederberg Biodiversity Corridor, because farming in a place as sensitive and beautiful as this demands cooperation beyond our own fence lines.

On our farm Waterval, more than 90% of the land has been assigned to conservation. We also entered into a stewardship agreement with CapeNature, creating the Skimmelberg Nature Reserve. For us, conservation is not a side project. It is part of the farm itself, part of the brand, and part of the promise we make when we sell a cup of tea or a bottle of oil.

That same care extends into our value-added products, from our aromatic Buchu Essential Oil to our refreshing Buchu Hydrosol, both of which carry the unmistakable character of this mountain herb.

Buchu: a South African botanical with a remarkable history

Buchu is one of the most important herbal medicines to emerge from South Africa. Long before it reached international markets, it was introduced to early colonists by Khoi pastoralists as a herbal remedy. That indigenous knowledge sits at the root of Buchu's story and deserves to be acknowledged with respect.

Its historical journey is a fascinating one. Buchu was officially listed as a medicine in the British Pharmacopoeia in 1821, and by the mid-nineteenth century it had become popular in the United States for urinary ailments. One of the more surprising footnotes in its past is that several bales of Buchu leaf appeared on the cargo manifest of the RMS Titanic on its final voyage. Few herbs can claim a history that stretches from mountain slopes in the Cederberg to such global moments.

Botanically, Round-leaf Buchu (Agathosma betulina) is a member of the citrus family, Rutaceae, and it is endemic to the mountain slopes of the Cederberg region. Traditionally and today, Buchu is valued for a wide range of wellness-supporting properties. It is commonly associated with antiseptic, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial qualities, and is widely appreciated as a natural diuretic. Many people turn to Buchu as part of a lifestyle focused on urinary tract health, joint comfort, skin support, and everyday wellbeing. If you would like to explore this extraordinary plant in more detail, visit Everything Buchu.

For those who enjoy Buchu in its purest form, our Organic Loose Buchu Leaf Tea offers a direct expression of the plant: aromatic, clean, and deeply rooted in the fynbos landscape.

Rooibos: local heritage, global recognition

Rooibos is every bit as local and every bit as remarkable. Aspalathus linearis, a member of the legume family Fabaceae, grows naturally only in South Africa and is endemic to the mountains of the Cederberg. For generations, local people have brewed its leaves as a refreshing tea. The name Rooibos, meaning "red bush," comes from the reddish colour of the fermented leaves.

Today Rooibos tea has found admirers all over the world, and for good reason. It is naturally caffeine-free, naturally low in tannins, and rich in antioxidants. Many people choose Rooibos as a gentle, health-promoting alternative to coffee and black tea. It is also used extensively in skincare and household products, and Green Rooibos, the unfermented form, is prized for its even higher antioxidant content.

Its international stature was formally recognised when Rooibos received Protected Designation of Origin status from the European Commission, joining names such as Champagne, Irish Whiskey, Porto, and Queso Manchego in the PDO register. That recognition matters because it protects not only a product, but the cultural and geographic identity tied to it. To learn more, visit Everything Rooibos.

Respecting the people behind the knowledge

We believe responsible farming is inseparable from ethical accountability. In 2013, we were one of the first to receive a bioprospecting permit and to reach a Buchu Benefit Sharing Agreement with the San and Khoi-Khoi. That was an important step, not only for our company, but for the broader recognition that indigenous knowledge must be treated fairly and respectfully.

The story of Buchu does not begin with modern commerce. It begins with people who knew this landscape intimately and understood the plants within it. For us, sustainability must include that human history, not just the ecological one.

From our mountain to your cup

What we offer is more than organic Buchu tea or Rooibos tea. We offer traceability, regional authenticity, and a product shaped by regenerative farming in one of the world's most extraordinary botanical landscapes. When you drink our teas, you are tasting the Cederberg: its altitude, its biodiversity, its wildness, and its restraint.

If you are new to our range, a good place to begin is our Organic Buchu Tea for Wellness, which celebrates the clean, distinctive character of Buchu. If you enjoy a balanced herbal blend, our Organic Rooibos Tea with Buchu brings together two iconic Cederberg botanicals in one cup. And for those who want a warmer, gently spiced profile, our Organic Rooibos Tea with Ginger is a comforting everyday favourite.

Explore more from Skimmelberg

• Organic Buchu Tea with Mint for a fresh, uplifting herbal infusion.
• Organic Buchu Tea with Camomile for a softer, calming cup.
• Organic Buchu Tea with Rooibos for a grounded, distinctly South African blend.
• Organic Buchu Tea Collection if you would like to experience the breadth of our Buchu range.

At Skimmelberg, we do not see Buchu and Rooibos as trends. We see them as part of a living heritage: botanical, cultural, and agricultural. Our responsibility is to grow them well, process them carefully, honour the communities and knowledge systems tied to them, and protect the land that makes them possible.

That is what it means to be rooted in the Cederberg.