VUSI'S GOT IT DOWN DOWN TO A TEA

This young Stellenbosch entrepreneur is making waves with his special blend of rooibos tea

- LESEGO MKHIZE

THERE'S nothing like a warm cup of tea on a chilly morning. And that's exactly what Vusumzi Mokoena offers when we meet him in Kayamandi in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape. He cradles his own steaming cuppa in his hands before setting it down on the table.

"So, what do you think?" he asks eagerly.

It's no surprise he wants to know what we think. Vusi, as he's known, is the proud creator of the Mavusana Premium Rooibos Tea brand.

He's put his heart and soul into the special brew - and his efforts have paid off.

The 29-year-old entrepreneur started his business in 2021, and this year he took the second spot in the top beverages category at the Youth-Owned Brands Awards (YOBA). The YOBAS recognise and celebrate the innovation and hard work of South African youth-owned brands.

In the early days of the business, he and a friend marketed the tea door to door, but he now boasts a website where people can order online. The tea is also available at some restaurants in Stellenbosch and Cape Town.

Vusi can't believe how much can change in a year but he's by no means an overnight success.

He was unemployed when a friend asked him to research the tea-drinking habits in his community.

"I went door to door asking people about their tea-drinking preferences and that's when I realised there was a greater untouched market to tap into," he says.

Although the research gig was short-term, his findings were insightful and paved the way for his success.

"What was interesting to note was that people didn't know there are different flavours of rooibos, and 95,5% of the respondents I spoke to said the current strain of the rooibos that exists is weak" That's when he decided to brew his own blend of tea.