Moringa, tallow, tea: Africa’s organic pioneers drive growth

A new wave of African organic brands is gaining momentum, blending tradition with innovation to meet a growing demand for natural living.

This was evident at the Cape Town Organic and Natural Products Expo Africa 2026, which recently highlighted the growing demand for healthier, natural products.

Good vibes, naturally!

All the way from Kenya, exhibiting in Mzansi has boosted brand visibility, allowing Super Moringa to expand from the Eastern African market into Southern Africa. Founder Judy Otieno-Salano says the experience has been positive, with strong interest from partners for distribution and bulk supply orders.

“This is something we’ve built from the ground up, working closely with farmers, especially smallholder farmers, to grow, process, and bring high-quality moringa products to market,” she said.

“It’s not just a business for us, it’s a mission around health, sustainability, and community empowerment.”
Judy Otieno-Salano

Being surrounded by other African organic brands highlights the richness of what the Still Organics brand produces locally, as well as the growing shift toward more conscious, natural living, said founder Kayleigh Sole, fondly known as the “Farmer’s Wife”.

“It’s also a great opportunity to connect, learn, and celebrate the diversity and innovation within our community,” she said.

“What makes our products truly organic is our commitment to using clean, minimally processed ingredients with no harmful chemicals, additives, or synthetic fillers. We are also certified organic.”

“This kind of platform gives us visibility, helps us educate people about our products, and opens doors for retail opportunities, partnerships, and growth,” she added.

Most importantly, she noted that they want people to experience the value of their products firsthand.

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Nature is at the core of every brand

Freda Linde-Gaisie, co-founder of Akan Moringa, told Food For Mzansi that moringa is “such a force of nature” and so nutrient-dense that they like to call it a plant-based multivitamin.

“It has so many health benefits. It is very important for us to bring our customers the best quality moringa products,” she said.

She added that it is valuable for their brand to be part of a community that promotes diverse, high-quality, natural products.

Tallow by Onie is rooted in simplicity and tradition, explained founder Oneziwe Jackson. For her, what makes the product truly natural begins at the source.

“We’re working with animals that are raised the way nature intended. Beyond that, it’s also about going back to what our forefathers used,” she said.

Empowering women agroprocessors

There is a deep sense of familiarity around the product, with many people saying it reminds them of home. Jackson believes this connection reflects a broader shift in how people think about what they use daily.

“There’s a growing awareness around what we put on our bodies and into our homes. Natural, organic products are no longer a niche; they’re becoming a way of life,” she added.

For Fiona Sephton, founder of Stone Bridge, who works alongside her daughter Emma Sephton, the expo offered a valuable opportunity to connect with the right audience.

“As a women-owned business, this platform puts us in front of health-conscious consumers, retailers, and partners who genuinely understand and value what organic means,” she said.

The brand produces artemisia afra-based rooibos tea, grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers, with their rooibos certified organic and sourced from Clanwilliam.

“We would love to grow our retail footprint beyond Takealot and find like-minded stockists who want to carry our proudly South African herbal teas,” she added.

Sephton emphasised that traceability is central to their work, noting that artemisia afra is a plant trusted for generations as a wellness herb.