Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company dedicates this Heritage month to South Africa’s First People and the plant they’ve been harvesting for generations, rooibos.
During September, South Africans around the country honour the diverse culture and heritage that makes us as a nation so unique. And is there really a plant that is more South African than rooibos?
We think not! As a proudly South African gin, Cape Town Rooibos Red Gin is inspired by South Africa’s indigenous Khoi and San communities and the ‘red bush’ that is intrinsically linked to them.
You can’t think of Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company without thinking of Cape Town – it’s literally in the name. Pick up a bottle and you’ll even see the iconic Table Mountain looking back at you, but it also goes beyond just the label. ‘The heritage of Cape Town as a city and the people who have sculpted it over centuries is important to our brand heritage and we feel proud to be the temporary custodian of this history,’ says Jaco Boonzaaier, director of Cape Town Gin & Spirits Company.
Though each of their varietals pay homage to this electric city it calls home, it’s the Cape Town Rooibos Red Gin that holds a special place for the brand and South Africans alike. Infused with (you guessed it) rooibos, an exotic red plant known for its unique flavour, red colour and health benefits, it originated deep in the Western Cape’s Cederberg mountains – the only place in the world it grows naturally. The caffeine-free drink has long been promoted for its various health benefits earning itself the nickname wonder tea. ‘It gives our gin a wonderful red colour and spicy herbaceous flavour,’ says Boonzaaier. ‘But, more than that, we wanted to showcase local botanicals and rooibos farming that provides jobs for local communities.’
Working with Khoisan Gourmet, the Cape Town Rooibos Red Gin is infused with organic, handpicked rooibos to extract the essence of this plant. As a leading rooibos producer, Khoisan Gourmet respects the time-honoured traditions of the Khoisan people who lived so close to the earth, operating in an environmentally sensitive way to create this powerful herbal tea. Guided by local insight and inspired by centuries-old knowledge, they are known for working closely with Khoisan farmers in the Cederberg area. ‘We wanted to buy the best rooibos on the market, but we also share their commitment to empowering local communities,’ explains Boonzaaier.
As a versatile plant, rooibos has been infused in plenty of craft gins for that distinctly South African flavour, but what sets Cape Town Rooibos Red Gin apart is that, according to Boonzaaier, others on the market often blend their’s with other fynbos, thereby masking the exceptional flavour of rooibos. ‘We use only top-grade organic rooibos to ensure the best possible extraction of flavour and colour.’
Long before the first settlers arrived on the shores of Table Bay, the Khoisan people lived off the land and first discovered rooibos which they harvested and brewed as an herbal remedy. When you buy a bottle of Cape Town Rooibos Red Gin, you’ll not only have a distinctive South African gin that you can share with your friends, but you’ll also be supporting the Khoisan farming communities in the Cape.
Buy your bottle of Cape Town Rooibos Gin at leading liquor stores and enjoy a sip of this proudly local gin this Heritage Day on ice with a slice of fresh orange or as a long drink with ginger ale and fresh orange juice.
Be sure to like and follow Cape Town Gin & Spirit’s Company on Facebook and Instagram to keep up to date on all their latest news and offerings and book your tasting at the new Cape Town Gin & Spirits Emporium at the V&A Waterfront on their website.
