Essential Oils: Essential Foods

Zimbabwe’s climate is ideal for the organic cultivation of herbs, spices, medicinal, and aromatic plants. There is growing international demand for high quality, fair trade products derived from these plants, particularly in Europe, Asia, and North America. Our range of products includes herbs, spices, essential oils, and aromas from biodynamic crops, such as citronella, eucalyptus, lemon grass, tea tree and thyme. Wild khaki weed, for example, has often been considered valueless, but in fact is used in the manufacture of many different products, including cosmetics and natural pesticides. The adherence to strict and rigorous regional and international standards of organic farming (EU-organic certification, DEMETER-certification), empowers partner farmers to take advantage of the ever-growing world market. All products on offer, therefore, are certified according to the EU and North American Ecolabel standard by an international audit company.  

On account of their aroma and highly volatile nature, essential oils have been traditionally used as basic raw materials in perfumes and flavouring. They are employed in the preparation of beverages and medicines, in addition to personal care and household products, such as cosmetics, antiseptics, deodorants, disinfectants, toiletries, and cleaning preparations. In addition, essential oils are used in the flavouring of foods and beverages.

Dried herbs and spices, such as bird’s eye chillies and parsley, supplement the range of plants produced and processed by KAITE, and are grown mainly on the farms of the partner farmers themselves. The production of staple food crops is often overlooked in contract growing, but the organic production of complementary staple food crops (maize, sorghum, wheat, soy beans) is of utmost priority to KAITE to ensure continual food security for participating farmers. Hence, we also cultivate organic vegetables and staple crops together with our partner farmers, for their own home consumption and for sale on the local market.