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The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Rooibos, tea or coffee? What South Africans like to drink
When it comes to hot beverages, different demographic groups in South Africa tend to choose between coffee and various types of tea, including Rooibos. What do South Africans like to drink when they take a break? Some of us cannot do without the early morning pick-me-up coffee, but other drink only tea. And if they drink only tea, which kind of tea do they prefer? Eighty20 spills the tea on what South Africans like to sip by looking at the data. Andrew Fulton, director at Eighty20, says while coffee may be the go-to morning pick-me-up for many, tea remains the true global favourite, second only to water as the most consumed beverage in the world according to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). 'In South Africa, it is common to ask if people want Rooibos or regular when offering a cup of tea, and this shows how popular Rooibos is. Grown exclusively in the Cederberg region of the Western Cape, this naturally caffeine-free tea has become a global favourite. Just like Champagne, only products from this region can proudly carry the Rooibos name.' The data shows that over 22.6 million South African adults enjoy Rooibos, green tea or traditional tea every day. And they do not only stick to just one type of tea, Fulton says. Almost 30% of traditional tea drinkers also sip some Rooibos daily, and almost half of them pair their tea habits with a daily cup of coffee. Fulton says for brands this is a clear signal that tea time is all the time and for grocers, it is also important to look at complementary products, such as sugar. South Africans consume on average 4.2 teaspoons of sugar in tea, coffee, beverages or cereal per day. ALSO READ: Why experts recommend Rooibos for better health Who drinks what when it comes to coffee, tea and Rooibos tea? Coloured and Afrikaans-speaking people in the Western Cape and Free State consume considerably more, while isiXhosa and isiZulu speakers in the Eastern Cape and KZN consume considerably less. This table shows what South African consumers drank yesterday and how many chose tea or coffee. ALSO READ: Five tips to make the best cup of tea Where tea comes from When it comes to traditional tea, China is in the lead, producing nearly half of the world's tea, followed by India, Kenya and Sri Lanka (formerly known as Ceylon until 1972, a term still used interchangeably in South Africa for traditional tea). Fulton points out that tea is a massive industry, with global production valued at $17 billion, while the industry employs approximately 13 million people worldwide. Kenya is famous for its high-quality black tea, with its tea sector contributing over a quarter of the country's annual export earnings and providing employment to nearly 2 million people. South Africa's tea market is also brewing strong, projected to hit $447.29 million in revenue by 2025 with a steady annual growth of 3.07%. Joko tea and Glen tea are the market leaders for traditional teas in South Africa, while Freshpak remains the top pick for over half of all Rooibos drinkers. ALSO READ: 10 surprising facts about Rooibos More people are drinking tea Fulton says the consumption of traditional tea is increasing in East Asia, Africa and Latin America, but declining in Europe and North America. In North America, herbal teas and other ready-to-drink beverages are becoming more popular. 'This trend also positively affects our local tea substitute, Rooibos. The global Rooibos tea market is estimated to be worth approximately $1.3 billion in 2023, thanks to Rooibos Limited, the largest producer and distributor of Rooibos tea, exporting to 50 countries worldwide. What is the difference between traditional tea and Rooibos? Traditional teas like black, green and Oolong all come from the Camellia sinensis plant, but Rooibos tea is different. It is technically not a true tea but a tisane, a caffeine-free herbal infusion made by steeping plant materials in hot water. According to Fulton, people are switching to Rooibos all over the world, not only because it is a delightful drink but also due to its numerous health benefits. 'This naturally caffeine-free beverage is rich in antioxidants, helps to reduce blood pressure and improves cholesterol levels, soothes an aching stomach and can help to clear your skin.' ALSO READ: Rooibos industry paid R12 million to Khoi and San community in historic move What the data shows about tea drinkers There is also tea drinking demographics that show how much people all over the world love a cuppa. Using data from MAPS, a survey of 20 000 South Africans conducted by the MRF, Eighty20 a consumer analytics and data science agency, shows that women, Indians and Asians are over-indexed for all types of tea. The data also shows that Rooibos tea drinkers have marginally higher personal and household incomes than people who drink traditional tea, but the average household income of people who prefer green tea is nearly twice that of other tea drinkers. Green tea drinkers are also younger and better educated. Fulton says looking at the Eighty20 National Segmentation groups, poorer segments, such as the Humble Elders and Mothers of the Nation, tend to drink traditional tea, while Comfortable Retirees prefer Rooibos tea and the Heavy Hitters and Middle Class opt for green tea. This table shows the preferences of the different groups: 'Tea remains a cultural staple and commercial powerhouse in South Africa, with over 22 million adults drinking it daily. The growth of Rooibos tea locally and globally signals a shift in consumer preferences towards healthier, caffeine-free alternatives, offering valuable opportunities for brands looking to connect with evolving lifestyles and demographics,' Fulton says. NOW READ: Is coffee a luxury? Jacobs Coffee explains the price increase
National Observer
01-05-2025
- Business
- National Observer
Canada needs a true National Energy Program
It's time to build. That was Mark Carney's message to Canadians during the election campaign, and it ought to be one of his top priorities as he continues his job as prime minister. That means more housing, more healthcare and more (heck, any) high-speed rail. But it also means more energy — and more of the infrastructure that moves and manages it. That's right: it's time for the Liberals to build another national energy program. Done properly, this one can enhance national unity rather than undermining it. It can help heal the rifts being exploited in Alberta by Danielle Smith and her not-at-all-merry band of separatists. It can lay the foundation for the sort of national economy (and national economic mindset) that Carney has talked about repeatedly. And it can help Canada meet its climate goals and grow its economy at the same time. It should begin with a national electricity grid, one that improves our collective resilience, increases the volume of electrons available for decarbonization and lowers costs in the process. As the International Institute for Sustainable Development noted in a December 2024 report, this would stimulate economic activity across the country, from Quebec's planned build-out of hydroelectricity to Atlantic Canada's near limitless wind potential, Ontario's fleet of nuclear reactors and Alberta's massive wind and solar capacity. Rather than buying electrons from the United States, as tends to happen now, we can buy them from each other instead — and create tens of thousands of new jobs in the process. It would also, in time, save Canadian households and businesses billions of dollars. As the Canadian Climate Institute's own report shows, reaching net-zero electricity by 2050 will mean a 12 per cent decrease in average household energy spending, with 70 per cent of households saving an average of $1,500 per year. A new national energy program wouldn't just be about renewable energy, though. As Carney said during the campaign, 'it's time to build new trade and energy corridors working in partnership with the provinces, territories and Indigenous peoples.' Those corridors can help us unlock the enormous value contained in the ground across the country, whether it's critical minerals in Ontario and Quebec or oil, gas, uranium and potash on the prairies. In a world that will be defined over the next three decades by an energy transition, we have everything needed to fuel its progress. This is not the sort of blank cheque for fossil fuel development that so many in the Conservative world are calling for, though. There can be no attempts to ram pipelines through resistance in the way that defined the Harper government's colossal (and costly) failures on this file. Instead, those new trade and energy corridors should be designed with the express purpose of empowering the adjacent communities in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec to benefit from the resources that might flow through them. New oil and gas pipelines, if there is private sector interest in building them — no sure thing given collapsing oil prices and the prospect of another OPEC-driven price war — must be built with the national interest foremost in mind. That means displacing foreign and US oil imports and increasing our energy independence ought to be a higher priority than accessing global markets. It also means that there can be no new infrastructure connecting Canada's oil and gas with the United States, as Premier Smith and other Conservatives have continued to propose. Pierre Trudeau did it first. Mark Carney can do it right. Why it's time for a true National Energy Program, and what it could mean for Canada's future. And yes, all of this has to be done with an eye on climate change. Maybe that means a more deliberate attempt to get oil and gas companies off their wallets on emissions reductions, both through support for carbon capture and storage projects and the strengthening of the existing industrial carbon price. If the Carney government is willing to eliminate the emissions cap, as I suggested it should in an earlier column, it could both lower the political temperature and force the Alberta government to the negotiating table. Its price for any deal on that ought to be the elimination of all the provincial red tape and regulations that are being used to deliberately suffocate Alberta's wind and solar industry. A national energy program for the 21st century wouldn't be without its critics. It would provoke howls of outrage from the people — mostly in Alberta or the pages of Postmedia publications — who practically live to complain about anything a Liberal government does. And it would invite comparisons to the first National Energy Program, one that has been effectively misrepresented and weaponized by Conservative politicians for over four decades now. It's not without its risks, in other words. But the potential rewards make that risk worth taking. A new national energy program would create a clear sense of common purpose, support the creation of jobs and economic activity across the country and help advance Canada's interests and aspirations on climate change. It would, in the most literal sense of the term, be an act of nation-building — one that might be more needed than ever.
News24
26-04-2025
- General
- News24
Reviving Joburg's polluted Jukskei River
Local activists, artists and environmental experts are working together to revive the polluted Jukskei River, one of Johannesburg's largest rivers, GroundUp reports. The Jukskei River runs through many urban areas, including the densely populated township of Alexandra. During heavy rainfall, the river often bursts its banks causing flooding. Volunteers and activists have set up colourful litter traps where the river passes through Alexandra. The traps are made entirely out of recycled plastics woven together to make nets. Environmental experts have been advising community members on the best design for the handwoven litter traps. The traps catch discarded tyres, fibre-optic cables, and bricks eroded by the river. The nets have been placed at strategic locations along the river, accompanied by artworks made by local artists with materials salvaged from the river. This initiative is being implemented under SUNCASA (Scaling Urban Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in Sub-Saharan Africa) – a project led by the International Institute for Sustainable Development and the World Resources Institute. In Johannesburg, the Jukskei project aims to plant more than 40 000 trees along the river and clear up the land with the help of community activists. Johannesburg-based artist Hannelie Coetzee and the Alexandra Water Warriors, a civic organisation with over 2 000 volunteers, have for years been working on cleaning and rehabilitating the Alexandra section of the Jukskei. Coetzee also recruited other artists who produced large sculptures along the river using material salvaged from the river. "I think it's been a missed opportunity for a very long time not to involve communities in this level of participation. It not only helps change the river system, but it also creates agency and buy-in from the community to maintain it. Art is not an add-on here, it is central to ecological restoration," said Coetzee. Paul Maluleke, a founder of the Alexandra Water Warriors, said the litter traps are emptied almost daily by community volunteers who take the waste to the AWW recycling station to be sorted and recycled. The plan is to roll the project out in other communities facing similar challenges. Dr Samiksha Singh earned her PhD in Environmental Science for her study on the impact of microplastics in river systems like the Jukskei. "Interventions like these are very important," she said, "because we need to make sure our water is clean and safe, not only for consumption, but for recreation in our communities." Singh said being part of the collaboration between scientists, local residents and artists had been "really interesting" and "felt like I was taking the knowledge I had learnt and using it to find practical solutions with real outcomes".
