Most valleys are known for one crop. This one has two, and the world drinks and peels them without ever hearing the name of the place. The oranges gave the town its name: Citrusdal means citrus valley. The rooibos grows on the mountains behind it and commercially nowhere else on earth. This is a day spent seeing where both begin.
The story at a glance
| Rooibos | Grows commercially only in the Cederberg; the valley is its heartland |
|---|---|
| Citrus | Roughly 14% of South Africa's crop, across about 200 farms |
| Where to see it | Carmién Tea's rooibos farm, and the Hexrivier organic lemon tour |
| Where to taste | De Tol at the Carmién tea farm |
| Best length | A relaxed half-day, or a full day to do both crops |
| Best season | Rooibos harvest in summer; citrus packing March–September |
| Book ahead | Yes — farm visits are usually by arrangement, not walk-in |
Visits are generally by appointment. We publish no prices or opening hours because we hold no verified source for them — phone the farm first. See things to do for the full list.
The oranges gave the town its name
The town was founded in 1916 and named after what already grew here. On the Hexrivier farm just outside town, South Africa's oldest orange tree — more than 160 years old, and a national monument — still bears fruit.
A century on, the valley is the centre of the country's third-largest citrus-producing area, growing roughly 14% of the national crop across about 200 farms. It is best known for navel and Valencia oranges. The reason is the weather: cool winter nights are what turn the rind orange, and the valley has them.
From March to September, about 6 000 people are at work in the orchards and packhouses. Because the seasons are reversed, the fruit they pick reaches Europe and North America in their summer, when nothing local is ripe. The working valley, in numbers ›
The rooibos was here before either
Long before the orchards, rooibos grew wild on the mountains. It is Aspalathus linearis, a fynbos shrub that will only do well in the acidic, sandy soil of the Cederberg, with wet winters and hot, dry summers. The Khoi and San knew it first. It was only farmed from around 1930, and in 2021 the EU gave it a protected designation of origin, the same protection that Champagne has.
Stand in a rooibos field and the first surprise is that it is green. The red comes after cutting, when the leaf is bruised and left to oxidise. Dry it straight away instead and you get green rooibos: the same plant, lighter and grassier. Taste the two side by side and the difference stops being something you read about. The full rooibos story ›
More than 90% of South Africa's rooibos comes from the Cederberg, and that is the range on the eastern skyline from town — see the Cederberg from Citrusdal for what else is up there.
Where to see and taste it
These are the places we hold sourced information for. Visits are generally by arrangement, not walk-in, so contact each one directly.
Carmién Tea Rooibos Farm
The rooibos farm at De Tol, on the Citrusdal side of the valley. Contact the farm directly to arrange a visit.
See the listing → Tastings · De TolDe Tol tastings and pairings
Rooibos with small plates, gin with nougat, rooibos cappuccinos and a tea blended to your taste. Bookings preferred.
See the listing → Organic tour · HexrivierHexrivier Organic Lemon Tour
A family-run citrus farm, organic since 2008, that plants fynbos between the rows to feed the soil.
See the listing → Eat · De TolDe Tol Farm Deli
The farm deli and tea shop on the Carmién farm, on the Piekenierskloof Pass.
See the listing →Producer profiles with sourced facts: Carmién Tea, Mouton Citrus, Goede Hoop Citrus, ALG Estates.
A packhouse tour would complete the citrus half of the story. We have not found a packhouse that takes visitors, so we do not promise one. If you run one, tell us.
How to build your day
A relaxed rooibos-and-citrus day looks something like this:
- Start at Carmién Tea's rooibos farm, arranged ahead
- Lunch next door at De Tol, with a rooibos tasting
- In the afternoon, the Hexrivier organic lemon tour, if you have booked it
- Back to your chalet, and into the water if you are staying at The Baths
Pair it with a stay at a guest farm or The Baths to make a full weekend of it. Where to stay ›
When to come
Rooibos is harvested in summer, so a visit in the hot months is the one most likely to put cutting and drying in front of you. Citrus harvest and packing runs roughly March to September. Spring is the other good answer: the rooibos bushes carry their small yellow flowers, and the West Coast wildflower season is on. Season by season, including weather averages, is on when to visit.
| Rooibos harvest | Summer — exact weeks vary by season and farm |
|---|---|
| Citrus harvest & packing | About March to September, varying by cultivar |
| Rooibos flowering | Spring, small yellow flowers on the bush |
| Arranging a visit | Contact the farm directly; tours are usually by appointment |
Rooibos & citrus — quick questions
Can you actually visit a rooibos farm?
Yes. Carmién Tea's rooibos farm at De Tol takes visitors by arrangement, and De Tol, next door, runs rooibos tastings and pairings.
Can you tour a citrus packhouse?
We have not found a packhouse that takes visitors. The citrus visit we can point you to is Hexrivier Sitrus's organic lemon tour — contact the farm directly to arrange it.
Is this a good day for international visitors?
Yes — it is the story behind two products the world buys, told where they grow. It is quiet and easy to do at your own pace.
Last updated September 2026 · visits are by arrangement · no prices or opening hours are stated