Monatea gives rooibos a sparkling new identity

A Cape Town beverage brand is turning to rooibos and indigenous botanicals to offer an alternative to conventional sweetened soft drinks, as questions about sugar content and ingredient transparency continue to shape how consumers assess what they buy.

Monatea, which is co-founded by Tsepo Montsi and Imraan Jeeva, makes sparkling, cold-brewed rooibos drinks in unsweetened and lightly sweetened varieties.

The company says its approach centres on developing flavour through rooibos, fruit and botanicals rather than relying on conventional sweeteners.

What does ‘no added sugar’ actually mean?

Tsepo Montsi and Imraan Jeeva, the co-founders of Monatea, are putting a fresh spin on South African rooibos with a range of sparkling botanical drinks designed to offer flavour without the sugar or sweeteners. Picture: Supplied

The distinction between a product containing no added sugar and one containing no sugar is important for consumers comparing drinks.

The World Health Organisation recommends keeping free sugars below 10% of total daily energy intake, with further benefits associated with reducing that proportion to 5% or less.

Its definition of free sugars includes sugars added during production, as well as those naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices and fruit juice concentrates.

That means a product’s full ingredient list and nutrition information can offer more useful detail than a marketing phrase alone.

Montsi argues that the wording used by beverage manufacturers can leave consumers unclear about their sugar intake.

‘No added sugar’ is one of the most misleading phrases in the beverage industry, in my view, because it doesn’t necessarily tell you how much sugar you’re actually consuming,’ he says.

Rooibos meets sparkling botanical flavours

Picture: Supplied

Monatea’s range uses cold-brewed rooibos as its base, pairing it with fruit and botanicals to create three named blends.

The flavours include:

• Sage, Lime and Cape Mint

  – a blend built around herbs and citrus.

• Hibiscus, Berry and Buchu

  – combining berry flavours with the tartness of hibiscus.

• Ginger, Peach and African Olive Leaf

  – bringing together ginger and peach with African olive leaf.

The company says its Zero range contains no sugar, sweeteners, calories or caffeine. Its Low range is lightly sweetened and contains 37 calories per 300ml can.

These are product claims supplied by the brand; consumers can check the current packaging for the applicable nutritional information and ingredients.

For Montsi, rooibos provides a starting point for creating a distinctly South African drink.

‘Rooibos is an incredible foundation for a drink like this. When you start exploring the botanicals we have in South Africa, the possibilities are remarkable,’ he says.

‘Our aim has always been to create something delicious and satisfying, but also to be completely clear about what’s in the can. For us, that’s what zero compromise means.’

Rooibos has deep roots in the Western Cape, particularly the Cederberg region, where the plant is cultivated. Its place in South Africa’s food and drink culture also gives brands an opportunity to build products around locally recognised ingredients.

A recent article from *The South African, *examining coffee and tea consumption in the country, highlighted the reach of tea, including rooibos, among local consumers.

Meanwhile, **Cape {town} Etc **recently explored the changing drinks market in its coverage of Vida e Caffè’s summer menu, which includes new hydration and energy-focused options.

Monatea says its sourcing approach includes working with Skimmelberg, a family-owned Cederberg farm and processor that dedicates more than 90% of its land to conservation.

The brand also says its drinks are packaged in recyclable aluminium cans and that the range carries organic, Halaal and Kosher certifications.

The company is available through selected South African retailers and online platforms, including Checkers, Takealot, Faithful to Nature and Amazon.

It also identifies the Netherlands, Botswana and Canada as markets into which it is expanding.

The extent of its retail availability may vary by location and retailer.

Monatea’s approach places rooibos and African botanicals at the centre of a product range designed for people looking for unsweetened or lightly sweetened sparkling drinks.

The range is available through the company’s website, alongside its listed retail and online outlets.

Picture: Supplied

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**Picture: **Supplied

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