Look closely at an LMC rooibos blend and you’ll often see more than tea leaves. There may be delicate flowers, colourful petals or warming spices, each bringing something different to the cup.
But what makes rooibos such a good match for botanicals?
More Than a Simple Base
Rooibos has a distinct character of its own. Research into Aspalathus linearis describes its aroma as woody, with notes of fynbos, florals and honey. Softer hints of fruit, caramel and apricot can also be found.
So, rooibos is far from a blank canvas. It already brings its own layers of aroma and flavour to the cup, while still leaving room for botanicals to bring something of their own.
What Botanicals Bring to the Cup
Add botanicals and those possibilities open up even further. Flowers can introduce delicate aromas, while citrus peel can bring freshness. Hibiscus adds tartness and colour, and spices can introduce warmer, deeper notes.
You can see this across the LMC collection, from the jasmine flowers and orange peel in LMC Jasmine and Orange Blossom to the hibiscus and rose petals in LMC Cherry & Hibiscus.
For LMC, botanicals also add to what you see. The colours, shapes and textures of the ingredients are part of the experience, from looking through the pyramid teabag to watching them infuse in your cup.
Finding the Right Balance
Pairing botanicals with rooibos takes careful testing. Our QA team considers the taste, aroma and appearance of a blend, as well as how the ingredients work together. Steeping trials are one part of this process. Some botanicals, including spearmint and chamomile, can become more astringent or bitter when left to brew for longer, so testing helps the team understand how a blend behaves in the cup over time.
Even the way ingredients sit together matters. Botanicals have different weights, sizes and densities, so some can separate rather than remaining evenly distributed throughout the blend.
It means taste is only one part of getting a blend right. Aroma, appearance and how the ingredients work together matter too.
It All Comes Together in the Cup
At LMC, we work with a considered number of ingredients, allowing each botanical to have a place alongside the rooibos. It’s about choosing ingredients with purpose, considering what they bring to the flavour, aroma and appearance of the finished tea.
So, the next time you spot a jasmine flower, piece of orange peel or colourful petals in your LMC tea, take a closer look. It’s a small glimpse into why rooibos and botanicals can make such an interesting pairing.
