One of the highlights of my trip was meeting champion tea master Saman, who invited us for a tea-tasting session. Not only did he cook and spoil us with Iranian delicacies, but he also shared his tea blends and demonstrated how to prepare tea the traditional Persian way.

Damask roses have been cultivated since ancient Persia and are often regarded as the "Queen of Roses" for their exceptionally high essential oil content, which produces a rich, sweet, and long-lasting fragrance. Unlike many modern rose cultivars that bloom multiple times throughout the year, Damask roses bloom only once annually.

Rooibos means “red bush” in Afrikaans, though the plant itself isn’t red in its natural state, it only develops its deep reddish hue after the fermentation process.

It’s no easy way reaching the remote village of Wupperthal. Nearly every local I met warned me of the difficult journey ahead. Many of the paths leading into Wupperthal were in disrepair

The process of making rooibos takes about 2-3 days depending on the weather. After harvesting, the Rooibos plants are immediately brought to the processing facilities to be cut.

Rooibos is often blended with other herbs to enhance its flavor, but did you know that Rooibos on its own can have different taste profiles?