A blend built around your brief
Custom tea blending starts with a clear brief. You tell us who the tea is for, how it will be served, and what flavour direction you want, whether that is soft and floral, earthy and comforting, citrus-forward, or a rooibos blend with a warmer finish. We work with loose-leaf teas, rooibos and herbal infusions, and we can adjust the profile for morning use, after-meal serving, cold weather ranges, or a special event theme.
Each brief is handled from our Stellenbosch Central base by our tea team, with Annelise van der Merwe overseeing the service and Siyabonga Ndlovu leading the blending work. We focus on practical results: a flavour that holds well in a teapot, a consistent look in pack, and a blend that suits your intended price point. If you need a blend for retail shelves, a wedding favour, guest room tray or office tea station, we can shape the recipe accordingly.
- Loose-leaf tea, rooibos and herbal base options
- Blend direction matched to flavour, colour and aroma goals
- Suitable for gifting, hospitality, retail and events
- Options for plain tea or a flavoured signature mix
What is included in the service
The service includes recipe development, ingredient selection, sample preparation and final packing guidance. We can create a new blend from scratch or refine an existing idea you already have in mind. If your goal is a South African signature blend with rooibos at the centre, we can build around that. If you need a lighter tea for breakfast service or a caffeine-free option for evening use, we will guide the composition.
Included in the process is advice on leaf size, flavour strength and infusion behaviour. Fine cut ingredients brew faster and suit smaller bags or quick service, while larger leaf styles may need a little more time and space in the pot. We also consider shelf life, fragrance retention and how the blend will hold up in warm kitchens, warehouse storage or coastal humidity. For Cape Town, Durban or other humid areas, pack format matters a lot, so we recommend the right barrier and closure for the final use.
- Recipe planning and tasting notes
- Ingredient sourcing from suitable loose-leaf and herbal components
- Sample blending and one round of refinement
- Packing advice for retail, gifting or hospitality use
- Optional label wording support for your final pack
How the blending process works
Once we receive your enquiry through the contact page, we confirm the use case, target quantity and flavour direction. From there we move through a simple process that keeps the project practical and easy to approve. If you already know the flavour profile you want, we can move faster. If you are still deciding, we can recommend a direction based on your audience and budget.
The first step is a brief call or written discussion to settle the type of tea, the occasion and the expected serving style. Next we prepare a sample blend and share the mix notes. After tasting, we can make minor adjustments to balance body, sweetness, herbal lift or rooibos depth. Once signed off, we move to production and packing. Most small custom runs are completed within 5 to 10 working days after approval, depending on ingredient availability and order size. Larger or more complex projects may take longer, especially if special packaging or multiple pack sizes are involved.
- Step 1: enquiry and flavour brief
- Step 2: recipe concept and sample preparation
- Step 3: tasting and adjustment
- Step 4: final production and packing
- Step 5: courier dispatch across South Africa
Pack sizes, specs and practical limits
Custom blends can be packed for retail units, hospitality jars, refill bags or bulk supply. We commonly work with 50 g, 100 g, 250 g and 1 kg packs, but other sizes can be discussed if the use case calls for it. For event tea bars or wedding favours, we can help with smaller portions that suit a single serve or take-home gift. For hotel pantries, office kitchens and restaurants, larger formats often work better and reduce restocking. We can also help plan tea menu rotation if you need a few different blends across a season.
Specs depend on the recipe, but a typical custom loose-leaf blend uses a measured balance of base tea, rooibos or herbal material, and supporting flavour ingredients. If a blend needs to stay bright over several months, we may suggest stronger aromatic ingredients or a drier pack environment. In coastal areas like Somerset West or Durban, storage away from steam, sunlight and open windows helps a lot. For businesses dealing with load-shedding, a sealed pack in a cool cupboard is a simple way to keep quality steady.
- Pack sizes: 50 g, 100 g, 250 g, 1 kg and bulk by discussion
- Use types: retail, hospitality, gifting, office and event service
- Common formats: loose-leaf, refill pouch, labelled jar or bulk bag
- Storage: cool, dry and out of direct light
Pricing, minimums and approval structure
Pricing is based on the recipe, ingredient mix, quantity and packing requirements. A simple rooibos-led blend is usually priced differently from a more layered tea with several botanical ingredients or custom presentation packing. We quote on a case-by-case basis so the cost stays tied to the actual brief, not a fixed one-size-fits-all tariff. This is the fairest way for private label, seasonal gifting and hospitality work where volumes and pack styles can change from one order to the next.
Minimum order quantities depend on the blend and the final pack format. Smaller trial runs may be possible for sampling or menu testing, while recurring supply for offices, guest houses or shops can be planned as a repeat order. We do not lock clients into unnecessary volumes. If you only need a limited run for a launch, wedding or trade event, we will advise on the most sensible batch size. Payment and sign-off are confirmed before production starts, which keeps the timeline clear.
Keeping the blend right over time
For clients using a custom blend regularly, maintenance is straightforward. We recommend reviewing the recipe every 6 to 12 months if the blend is used in hospitality, retail or corporate gifting, especially when your audience changes or you want a seasonal version. Rooibos-based blends can often stay familiar while the accent notes shift slightly with the time of year. That keeps the product recognisable but not stale.
If the blend is serving a menu, a guesthouse or an office pantry, we can help with restocking rhythm and pack format changes as demand shifts. When a blend moves into warmer months, we may suggest a fresher citrus or herb note, while winter can suit fuller spice or honeyed tones. That kind of small adjustment keeps the offering relevant without starting over. Zanele Dlamini can assist with gifting and presentation requirements, while Mariska Botha and Thabo Mokoena help keep fulfilment moving smoothly from blend to courier.
- Review interval: every 6 to 12 months for repeat orders
- Seasonal tweaks possible for winter, summer or festive ranges
- Restocking plans available for regular hospitality and office use
- Courier delivery available to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Bloemfontein
Key facts
| Base location | Stellenbosch Central, Western Cape |
|---|---|
| Blend types | Loose-leaf teas, rooibos and herbal infusions |
| Typical turnaround | 5 to 10 working days after approval |
| Common pack sizes | 50 g, 100 g, 250 g, 1 kg |
| Service areas | Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, Somerset West, Paarl |
| Best for | Retail, gifting, hospitality, offices, events and private label |
