• Cape Tea Company was founded in 2015, sharing the late Nelson Mandela’s vision to make free education accessible to all South Africans. As Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon… you can use to change the world,” the company echoes this belief by arming various non-profit organizations with the resources they need to provide education to marginalized communities in South Africa.
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A portion of their profits is donated to the Mandela Day School Library Project, which provides books and literacy resources to underprivileged South African communities. Additionally, they contribute to various non-profit organizations in Cape Town responsible for building schools and providing necessary supplies for its students who would not be able to afford an education otherwise.

The entire Mandela Tea line is made of medicinal, indigenous South African plants, which include honeybush, rooibos, and buchu. The abundant health benefits of these mineral and antioxidant-rich teas support healthy digestion, a strong immune system, calm the nervous system and help regulate blood sugar levels, just to name a few.

In addition to the educational initiatives they contribute to, Cape Tea Company is committed to sourcing their ingredients from ethically, sustainably, and organically cultivated resources. In 2011, the honeybush was declared an endangered species by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). Endemic to the Western Cape, overharvesting from the wild and habitat destruction from natural disaster have contributed to its rapidly diminishing population. Currently, the ratio of wild to cultivated honeybush is estimated to be at 70/30, indicating that the majority of honeybush that is being sold commercially has been taken from the small area where it grows natively. In order to protect the population levels of this endangered species, Cape Tea Company cultivates the plant at various estates in Plettenburg Bay; an area that provides optimal soil conditions for the species to thrive.

Every box of Mandela Tea purchased supports the great legacy of the Nelson Mandela to increase the accessibility of education to all South Africans, provides sustainable employment through restoration of native honeybush population.