The origin of Rooibos is in southern Africa. Long before the Europeans, indigenous populations used the red shrub to produce a fruity and sweet tea. The branches of the shrub are dried in the sun and then crushed. The export of tea to distant countries began at the beginning of the 19th century and has developed to the present day. This has resulted in a cultivation of the shrub that was once exclusively wild. A high-quality Rooibos can be recognized by its ruby red color and its mild and sweet, typically aromatic taste. The leaves have fairly long needles.