Latest reviewed evidence
The European Union's registered Rooibos/Red Bush PDO applies to 100 percent pure dried leaves and stems of Aspalathus linearis from the defined South African area and separates oxidized material, with moisture below 10 percent, from green or unoxidized material, with moisture below 5 percent. South Africa's export standard separately sets a 1 percent foreign-matter ceiling, a 10 percent moisture ceiling, absence of Salmonella in 25 grams and absence of Escherichia coli in 1 gram, while requiring destination-specific residue compliance, packaging and traceability. These are identity, origin, export and safety references—not evidence that an offered lot conforms, that a geographic claim is authorized, or that a current physical price exists.
EU PDO oxidized Rooibos moisture ceiling
10
percent, product must be below · EU Implementing Regulation 2021/865
EU PDO green Rooibos moisture ceiling
5
percent, product must be below · EU Implementing Regulation 2021/865
South African export-standard foreign-matter ceiling
1
percent by mass, maximum · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
South African export-standard moisture ceiling
10
percent, maximum · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
South African export-standard Salmonella sample
25
grams, organisms required absent · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
South African export-standard total viable bacterial-count ceiling
300000
colony-forming units per gram, maximum · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
South African export-standard Escherichia coli sample
1
gram, organisms required absent · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
South African export-standard foreign-matter working sample
10
grams, minimum · South African Rooibos export standard 1996-5
Aspalathus linearis identity comes before the trade name
The EU PDO specification limits the protected Rooibos/Red Bush name to 100 percent pure dried leaves and stems of Aspalathus linearis cultivated or wild-harvested in its defined South African area. South Africa's export standard also defines rooibos through needle-like leaves and fine stems, while treating mixtures and industrial dust separately. Atlas retains botanical identity, origin claim, field or producer, processor, ingredient statement, batch and chain of custody instead of assuming every red herbal infusion is Rooibos.
Oxidized and green Rooibos are separate products
The PDO specification recognizes oxidized dried leaves and stems and green or unoxidized dried leaves and stems as distinct forms. Oxidized material may range from light brown or yellow to shiny brick red and can include lighter stem pieces; green material should show no browning or oxidation and may include reddish-brown fine stems and white woody pieces. Atlas does not merge observations across these forms and records oxidation state, color, processing and lot.
Cut grade, stems, white sticks and dust need measured definitions
Needle cut, coarse cut, fine cut, tea-bag cut and milled material are not interchangeable without a sieve or particle-size method. Lighter stems or white woody pieces can be part of the presentation, while foreign matter is material not derived from the rooibos plant. South Africa's export standard defines rooibos dust by passage through a 60-mesh sieve and excludes standalone dust from its rooibos definition. Atlas retains the agreed cut, sieve profile, leaf and stem presentation, white-stick allowance, foreign-matter method and result.
Moisture limits depend on product state and claim
The EU PDO specification sets moisture below 10 percent for oxidized Rooibos and below 5 percent for green or unoxidized Rooibos. South Africa's export standard applies a 10-percent ceiling within its export scope and references AOAC 925.19 with a maximum permissible determination deviation of 0.3 percentage point. Atlas records the product state, legal or buyer basis, sampling plan, method, result, uncertainty, test date and lot rather than transferring one moisture number across every form and destination.
Residue and microbiological evidence stays lot- and destination-specific
South Africa's export standard requires foreign matter no more than 1 percent by mass, Salmonella absent in a 25-gram sample, Escherichia coli absent in a 1-gram sample, no insects or insect parts and a total viable bacterial count no more than 300,000 colony-forming units per gram for rooibos and green rooibos. Importing-country residue limits apply when stricter. Atlas retains destination, applicable rule, laboratory, sampling, analytical method, detection limits, result, treatment or sterilization status and lot; a supplier statement is not substituted for the required evidence.
Geographic indication and export approval are separate evidence lanes
A PDO or other geographic-origin claim requires evidence that the product and supply chain fall within the protected specification. South Africa's export approval framework separately addresses quality, food safety, packaging, marking, traceability, sampling and inspection. Atlas records the exact claim, certifying or inspecting authority, certificate scope and status, operator or facility identifier, production and packing dates, package, lot and destination, and does not infer certification from a South African address or the word rooibos.
Packaging and intended use determine the evidence package
Retail packs, bulk containers, tea-bag material, blends and industrial dust have different presentation and control questions. South Africa's export standard requires clean, dry, intact packaging that protects against contamination and undesirable flavor or odor, plus true product description, net mass, origin, processing or packing date and operator traceability. Atlas retains package type and mass, liner and closure, intended beverage or industrial use, blend ingredients, storage, pallet and transport condition, processor and lot.
Identity and export standards do not establish a delivered Rooibos price
Botanical identity, PDO origin, moisture, microbiology, residues and packaging requirements do not establish current availability, lot conformity, transaction value or delivered cost. A physical estimate still needs permitted current observations for the exact oxidized or green product, cut, quality, certificate and lot; origin and processor; package and quantity; currency, Incoterm, load and destination points, delivery window, freight, duties and information vintage. Atlas withholds a physical estimate when those observations or usage rights are missing.