Our story
Rooted in West Africa.
Shared from San Francisco.
Saafara Herbal Teas was founded in San Francisco in 2011 with a simple purpose: to introduce the distinctive herbal teas, fruits, and botanicals of West Africa to a wider audience.
Our collection is inspired by generations of traditional knowledge and everyday tea culture across Senegal and the surrounding region. Botanicals such as Sehhaw (Kinkeliba), Hibiscus (Bissap), Moringa (Nébéday), Guiera (Guer), Jambakatan, and Baobab have long been prepared and enjoyed in West African homes and communities.
The hands behind the harvest
Small groups. Deep care. Herbs gathered with pride.
Long before a leaf of Sehhaw or a petal of hibiscus reaches a Saafara pouch, it passes through the hands of women who know these plants, the way you know a family recipe by feel, by season, by memory passed down rather than written down.
They work in small, close-knit groups, moving through the fields and bush at the hours the plants ask for. Most of them do this alongside the real work of their days, tending their family’s farm, running a household, raising children, and harvesting herbs is something they take on at the edges of that life, a way to set aside a little money that is entirely their own. When we buy from them, payment goes straight into their hands, not through a chain of intermediaries. It’s theirs to spend exactly as they choose.
What stays with us isn’t only the skill, though the skill is real, knowing which hibiscus flower has opened fully enough to pick, which kinkeliba leaves are ready and which need another week. It’s the care. Two women, in particular, are why we keep returning to them, season after season.
These aren’t isolated stories; they’re what this partnership looks like, season after season, in small groups across the Senegalese countryside. Every pouch of Saafara tea carries a little of that: not just the botanicals themselves, but the hands, the care, and the independence that went into gathering them.
West African botanicals selected for their authentic character, aroma, and connection to place.
From Senegal to your cup
Botanicals with a distinct sense of place
We believe these remarkable ingredients deserve to be experienced in their own right. We carefully select leaves, flowers, fruits, and botanical powders for their natural character, distinctive aromas, and authentic connection to the places where they have traditionally been enjoyed.
From the smooth, earthy character of Sehhaw to the lively tartness of Hibiscus and the refreshing fruitiness of Baobab, each product offers a new way to discover West African flavor. Some are enjoyed as single-botanical infusions, while others are thoughtfully paired with mint, ginger, lemongrass, eucalyptus, cloves, or citrus peel.
Many Saafara herbal teas are naturally caffeine-free and can be enjoyed throughout the day, served hot, chilled over ice, or prepared according to familiar West African traditions.
Tea becomes meaningful through the moments and people gathered around it.
A tradition of hospitality
Made for everyday discovery
For us, tea is more than a beverage. It is a moment to pause, welcome a guest, share conversation, and connect across generations.
Our goal is to preserve the identity of West African botanicals while presenting them in a way that feels approachable to customers discovering them for the first time. We provide botanical names, traditional names, flavor descriptions, and preparation guidance so every cup becomes an invitation to learn and explore.
Our commitment
Heritage presented with care
Saafara is committed to sharing carefully selected West African herbal teas and botanicals with respect for their origins and cultural heritage.
Ingredients rooted in West African food and tea traditions.
Herbs, flowers, fruits, and powders chosen for character and quality.
Helpful botanical, flavor, and preparation information.
Honoring the communities and traditions behind every plant we share.
Explore the collection