Ericaville Honeybush Farm

Ericaville Farming Trust manager Sidney le Fleur sat down and spoke proudly about the Ericaville Honeybush Farm with us on Friday 6^th July 2012.

Ericaville Honeybush Farm Staff

Initially the projected started back in 1996 when the Kranshoek and Crags Community met together with the Department of Agriculture the result, the Erica Farming Trust was established and registered in 2000.  The trust consists of 84 members, all holding equal shares in the project and all benefiting annually when the profits are distributed.  Creating a ethos of “I am working with others for myself”.

Sidney had eyed a piece of property in the Wittedrift area, however once funds were finally received from the Government in 2000, that piece of property was sold.  Luckily for Plan B, the 40ha farm in Kranshoek was purchased and soil tests conducted.  Initially the land was to cultivate vegetables and when the results of the soil came back, Sidney’s was disappointed. The soil was found to be suitable for farming Proteas, Honeybush and Bugu.

After months of intensive market research, they decided to plant Honeybush.  Participants in this project undergo training programmes focusing on the sustainable production, management, pest and disease control, financial management and post-harvesting quality control.

It took one year to clear the farm of Pine trees and in 2001 the first 5ha was planted, they gradually planted more Honeybush reaching 14ha and the floods in 2007 cost the farm 40% of their plantation to plant rot.  It was hard lesson, precautions where designed and built; the plants would be planted on a “ridge” and channels to flow into a new dam.  After all this planning and precautions Plettenberg Bay was hit with a severe drought, costing the farm to lose more plants.  Ericaville farm was left on 3.5ha.

They have since planted another 5ha and are currently on 8.5ha of Honeybush plantation.  Sidney is hoping to expand the farm to 16ha in 2016.

Ericaville Honeybush Farm - Seedlings

Ericaville exports internationally to Europe (Germany, Austria, France, Belgium and Italy) and America.  The Ericaville Farming Trust Honeybush Tea Project has entered into an export contract with the Fair Trade Market, this is an overseas market established to assist small farmers from developing countries. Currently Ericaville Honeybush Tea is selling at R50 per kilogram. This year so far the farm has harvested 17 tones of Honeybush Tea.

The first Honeybush Tea was planted in 2001 and harvested in 2003.  Planting seedlings usually takes place during the months of August and October and watered for the first two weeks.  After that the plants are only watered in excessively dry conditions which are monitored by Tensile meters.  The life span of these bushes is around 15 years and then will be replaced.  There is no specific season for harvesting and it is usually done when orders are received.

After harvesting the tea is sent to a processing plant for processing and packaging.  The cultivation of the teas is organically certified by ECOCERT.  This means that no fertilizers, pesticide or fungicides have been used in the entire production process.  The manufacturing of Honeybush Tea consists of four processing steps: harvesting, cutting, “fermentation” (oxidation) and drying.

Ericaville Honeybush Farm - Top: Honeybush, Bottom: Ericalville Honeybush Plantation

The Honeybush tea has many health benefits:  Caffeine free, very low Tannin levels, rich in anti-oxidants, known to benefit patients with heart conditions, cancer and asthma.  Rich in minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, copper, zinc, magnesium and sodium.  Calms and soothes the central nervous system. If you looking for further information on, please visit the Agricultural Research Council website.

Sidney le Fleur prepared for us a little “tea ceremony” where we enjoyed cups of this delicious deep honey colour tea and truly home baked eats.  We then proceeded to walk around the Tea Fields where Sidney gathered the workers for a greeting and a quick picture.  The farm is in immaculate condition and this is farm is sustainable with great potential for growth and development.

Currently this locally grown Honeybush Tea is ONLY sold at Market On Main and Healthy Life Health Shop in the main street.  Ericaville Honeybush will introduce Iced Tea in August, which will be sold by Robberg Seafoods.

If you would like to stock the Ericalville Honeybush Tea in your restaurant, accommodation establishment or shop please contact Sidney on 082 226 9467

Once again thank you Sidney for your time and hospitality.  We wish Ericaville all the success.

Article and photos: Sharyn Hodges