HAY/DRIED GRASS FYNBOS-FLORAL

ROOIBOS-WOODY

HONEY

CARAMEL

FRUITY

-SW

EET

APRI

COT

10

20

30

40

WESTERN CAPE

HAY/DRIED GRASS FYNBOS-FLORAL

ROOIBOS-WOODY

HONEY

CARAMEL

FRUITY

-SW

EET

APRI

COT

10

20

30

40

NORTHERN CAPE

Role of production area

Aroma profile of rooibos

ooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) is cultivated in the

Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces of South

Africa. Sensory analysis of a large number of samples

(n = 230), spanning the two production areas, three production

seasons and four quality grades confirmed the characteristic

primary aroma profile of rooibos as “rooibos-woody”,

“fynbos-floral” and “honey”, irrespective of production area.

Less prominent and not present in all samples of a production

region were “caramel”, “fruity-sweet” and “apricot”, forming

the secondary aroma profile of rooibos. These secondary aroma

attributes also do not associate predominantly with a production

region. “Hay/dried grass” was present at low intensities in 99%

of the samples and thus forms part of the “characteristic” aroma

profile of rooibos.

R

For more information:

Lizette Joubert (JoubertL@arc.agric.za)Agricultural Research Council (ARC-Infruitec-Nietvoorbij)

Nina Muller (mm7@sun.ac.za)Stellenbosch University (Department of Food Science)

©Agricultural Research Council, 2018