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Johannesburg, August (GYRP) – When the poor people from a rural town in Zimbabwe were hungry or sick they used to head into the forest to collect leaves from the Makoni bush to brew up as a tea.
Now they are aiming to bring it to world markets.
For centuries the local people in Nyanga have brewed the Makoni tea, which is naturally rich in zinc, to build stamina, strengthen bones and treat aches and pains. The bush is named, they believe, after a great chief who used to give the drink to his soldiers.
Despite its health benefits, the tea had faded in popularity both with the young, who believed it to be an ‘old people’s drink’, and with the more affluent who preferred commercial brands.
The value of the plant was only realised after a visit from a local NGO who saw its potential and encouraged the locals to begin marketing the tea.
That was two years ago and they are still walking the slow path to success.
Although not yet a worldwide brand, Makoni Tea is making progress and the people in Nyanga are starting to see results.
The town has organised itself into an organisation called the Indigenous Tea Producers Association and is hoping for an influx of orders after their treasurer, Constantine Magunda, returns from a marketing expedition to the Johannesburg World Summit.
If Magunda, a sprightly 66-year-old, is living proof of the benefits of the brew, then there is no doubt that it will be extremely popular with high-income earners who have popularised herbal teas in recent years.
Magunda is determined to let the world know about Makoni Tea and its benefits.
“The tea is similar to rooibos but much better. It will give you lots of stamina,” he said. South Africa, where rooibos herbal tea is popular, should be a good market for Makoni, the producers hope.
Beauty Jiji from the Southern Alliance for Indigenous Resources (SAFIRE) was part of the NGO team who encouraged the locals to harness the power of their natural resources. She is accompanying Magunda to the Summit to help him drum up international interest.
“Since we have embarked on this plan lots of exciting things have happened to the community. Initially they were sceptical but now everybody is certain that great things will happen. We wanted an enterprise that was different, one that could compete in an international market,” she said.
© GLOBAL YOUTH REPORTERS PROGRAMME
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