Honeybush (Cyclopia Spp.): from Local Cottage Industry to Global Markets — the Catalytic and Supporting Role of Research ⁎ E
Available online at www.sciencedirect.com South African Journal of Botany 77 (2011) 887–907 www.elsevier.com/locate/sajb Review Honeybush (Cyclopia spp.): From local cottage industry to global markets — The catalytic and supporting role of research ⁎ E. Joubert a,b, , M.E. Joubert c, C. Bester d, D. de Beer a, J.H. De Lange d,e,1 a Post-Harvest and Wine Technology, ARC (Agricultural Research Council of South Africa) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa b Department of Food Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland (Stellenbosch) 7602, South Africa c Soil and Water Science, ARC (Agricultural Research Council of South Africa) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa d Cultivar Development Division, ARC (Agricultural Research Council of South Africa) Infruitec-Nietvoorbij, Private Bag X5026, Stellenbosch 7599, South Africa e South African National Biodiversity Institute (previously National Botanical Institute), Kirstenbosch, Private Bag X7, Claremont (Cape Town) 7735, South Africa Received 11 April 2011; received in revised form 24 May 2011; accepted 24 May 2011 Abstract Honeybush tea (Cyclopia spp.), one of the traditional South African herbal teas with a long history of regional use, remained a cottage industry until the mid-1990s when researchers were instrumental in the development of a formal agricultural and agro-processing industry. It is one of the few indigenous South African plants that made the transition from the wild to a commercial product during the past 100 years. Research activities during the past 20 years included propagation, production, genetic improvement, processing, composition and the potential for value-adding.
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