Increases in excise duties on vehicles, fuel levies, and VAT have hit South African consumers hard this year, causing food and beverage prices to skyrocket. Cutting back on luxury food items has become the norm for South Africans, but with the silly season approaching and increased pressure to spend on gifts and parties, many are likely to be apprehensive about the season.
A bottle of wine already costs about 30c more per litre, while a 750ml bottle of spirits costs R14.89 more than it did last year at this time.
Beer and cider (340ml) have also increased by 14 cents. To increase festive season spending this year, shoppers may benefit from selecting beverages that offer good value for money rather than those that are expensive. Surprisingly, teas, including flavoured and fruit-infused varieties, have come out on top. According to Joe Swart, spokesperson for the South African Rooibos Council, tea is the world’s second most consumed beverage after tap water, and it is also one of the most affordable beverages on the market.
“Hot drinks, which include tea, coffee, and other specialty drinks, saw an inflationary increase of 4.8%, while cold drinks increased by 7%.”
“Tea generally weathers the storm well in difficult economic times and hasn’t been affected by the new Health Promotion Levy or ‘sugar tax’ that has been imposed on cool drinks,” he said.
Swart believes that Rooibos tea, in particular, provides excellent value for money due to its high concentration of antioxidants and other health-promoting compounds that protect against chronic illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes. Rooibos is naturally sweet and flavourful due to its low tannin content, which is responsible for the bitter taste found in other teas.
Even when comparing flavoured Rooibos tea for kids to other kids’ juices, there’s a price saving of as much as R9.30 per serving.
“Rooibos’ flavour-enhancing properties also gives consumers plenty of options in terms of culinary use. Think salad dressings, sauces, braai marinades and desserts or use it to make a refreshing iced tea, party cocktail or evening tipple,” he added.
