Starting its journey in South Africa’s rugged mountains of the Cederberg, Rooibos has become one of the most popular teas across the globe, exported to more than 50 countries, with millions of consumers enjoying its distinctive flavour and health properties. Now, in October 2026, the distinctly South African plant is preparing to take another giant leap… into space!
This first-of-its-kind initiative, led by the South African Rooibos Council (SARC), in collaboration with MaxIQ Space - with endorsement and support from the South African National Space Agency (SANSA), positions South Africa firmly within the global space science and innovation landscape.
For Joekels, a member of the SARC and home to the iconic Laager Rooibos brand Laager Rooibos, the initiative provides an opportunity to celebrate just how far this uniquely South African product has come.
“Rooibos has always been rooted in South African soil, but this initiative shows that its story is still reaching new heights,” says Candice Sessions, Marketing Manager at Joekels. “For Joekels, it is a proud moment to celebrate the people, places and possibilities behind one of South Africa’s most loved natural products.”
So why send Rooibos seeds to the International Space Station?
Ultimately, their journey to space is just the beginning. At its core, this initiative is about understanding how a plant, adapted to South African soil, responds when it is placed in the extreme conditions of space - and what that can teach us about resilience, growth and adaptation.
Two batches of Rooibos seeds – scarified seeds and scarified and treated seeds – will travel aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket to the International Space Station (ISS), where they will orbit the Earth before returning home; a journey that will take roughly 6 weeks. Once back in South Africa, the seeds will be planted alongside Earth-based control samples to compare how the space-exposed seeds perform.
For Joekels Co-Founder and South African Rooibos Council Board Member, Joe Swart, the significance extends beyond the novelty of sending a South African plant into orbit.
“Years or even months ago, the idea of sending Laager Rooibos into space may have seemed like a pipe dream, but we are on the brink of celebrating this very milestone,” says Joe. “It’s a meaningful moment where a local agricultural product can contribute to, and stand alongside, international space research through a South African-led effort.
“From its humble beginnings as an indigenous South African remedy and tisane grown only in the rugged Cederberg, Laager Rooibos has become a worldwide sensation over the years. But while its popularity has grown far from home, Rooibos has never left our globe – until now.”
A South African plant with a global scientific story
The scientific purpose of this experiment is to determine whether exposure to space conditions influences germination, growth, resilience and yield. Once the seeds return to Earth, pupils from seven schools in the Cederberg region will plant and monitor them on local Rooibos farms Rooibos Tea. A parallel experiment at Parklands College will provide additional comparative data.
They will follow the plants through their development, tracking germination, seedling establishment, root development, early shrub formation and other growth indicators, comparing space-exposed plants with Earth-based controls. The project will get pupils to engage directly with real scientific data while learning about plant biology, sustainable agriculture, experimental design and the potential applications of space science.
The significance of this project extends far beyond the classroom walls. The future of farming, and even the future of food in space, depends on understanding how plants respond beyond our planet. Globally, space agencies are investing in plant research to support future missions – developing ways to grow food, generate oxygen, and sustain life in space. This initiative allows South Africa to be part of that conversation.
“For Joekels and Laager Rooibos, this is particularly meaningful because it connects three things that are central to Rooibos’ story: our land, our children, and our future,” says Sessions. “We aren’t just sending Rooibos seeds to space. We are launching the idea that even a small seed, when placed in the right conditions, can take us further than we ever imagined – that a plant rooted in South African soil can contribute to global science; a classroom can connect directly to space; and a learner in South Africa can become a scientist of the future.”
Delicious ways to take your Laager Rooibos out of this world
“While scientists explore Rooibos in space, we’re inviting South Africans to explore new ways of enjoying Laager Rooibos Cranberry & Wild Cherry Rooibos at home with space-inspired recipes,” says Sessions. “It’s a fun way to celebrate a serious scientific milestone while remembering that this incredible story begins with a tiny seed growing in South African soil.”
Rooibos in Space Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Rooibos in Space project?
Rooibos Rooibos in Space is a collaborative STEM education and scientific research initiative between the South African Rooibos Council and MaxIQ Space, with endorsement and support from SANSA. Rooibos seeds are scheduled to travel to the International Space Station in October 2026, where they will be exposed to microgravity and space radiation before returning to Earth for comparative planting and analysis.
- Why is Rooibos being sent into space?
The experiment aims to investigate whether exposure to space conditions affects Rooibos Laager seed germination, growth, resilience and yield. The space-exposed seeds will be compared with Earth-based control samples, giving learners and researchers an opportunity to study how an indigenous South African plant responds to an extreme environment.
- How is Laager Rooibos involved in the Rooibos in Space project?
Laager Rooibos Laager Rooibos Tea is a Joekels brand, and Joekels Joekels is a member of the South African Rooibos Council. The company is celebrating and supporting awareness of the initiative as an important milestone for South African Rooibos, agriculture, STEM education and innovation.
Keep Updated on Laager Rooibos Tips and Recipes
- Visit www.joekels.co.za
- Follow @LaagerRooibosTea on Facebook and Instagram
Laager Rooibos can be purchased from all major supermarkets, as well as online at www.joekels.co.za.
About Joekels
Joekels pack, blend and distribute some of South Africa’s most popular household tea brands including Tetley, Laager, Tea Time, Tea4Kidz, and Society Coffee. Started in 1994 by businessman, Joe Swart and Master Tea Blender, Jonathan Kelsey, Joekels is an award-winning business with both Halaal and Kosher accreditation, as well as the highest global food safety and quality certification, FSSC 22000. The Laager Rooibos brand is accredited by the Heart & Stroke Foundation of South Africa. Visit www.joekels.co.za
