Tolokazi Beer launches new alcoholic and non-alcoholic rooibos berry cider.
There is something special about watching a proudly South African brand grow, evolve and remain intentional about where it comes from. For Tolokazi Beer and Cider, that journey reached another milestone recently as the brand gathered guests at The Fort on Corlett in Melrose Arch, Johannesburg, for the launch of its newly formulated Rooibos Berry Cider, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic offerings.
The intimate Johannesburg gathering brought together media, Tolokazi club members, supporters of the brand and members of the team who travelled from the Eastern Cape to be part of the occasion.
At the centre of the afternoon was Tolokazi founder and Master Brewer Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, who welcomed guests and took them through the journey of building Tolokazi and the thinking behind a brand that is unapologetically rooted in South Africa.
For Nxusani-Mawela, the ambition extends beyond producing another cider or beer. She spoke about the importance of building a brand that South Africans can be proud of not only today, but for many years to come.
That vision is reflected in Tolokazi itself. The brand offers a range of premium beers and ciders and pays homage to the female brewers of Africa - past, present and future. Its products have also become a vehicle for showcasing indigenous African ingredients, including sorghum, rooibos and locally grown hops.
Tolokazi Beer launches new alcoholic and non-alcoholic rooibos berry cider.
The newly formulated Rooibos Berry Cider continues that story, bringing together the familiar South African character of rooibos with berry flavours to create a distinctly local offering. The alcoholic version is produced using Cape apples and back-sweetened with rooibos extract and berry juice.
But behind what guests were tasting on the day was considerable work.
Tolokazi brewer Khensani Mothomogolo played an important role in developing the final formulation, working on everything from ingredients and calculations to taking the product from small-batch research and development to larger-scale production.
“It’s quite exciting to see something come to life that you were part of from the beginning,” Mothomogolo said.
For her, launching the product also provided an opportunity to hear directly from the people drinking it.
“It’s also very enlightening for me to hear people’s feedback on what the product tastes like, what they think we should do differently and what they think we should do next. So, it is quite insightful and exciting as well.”
Maybe one of the most interesting developments is Tolokazi's decision to ensure that people who choose not to drink alcohol are also part of the experience.
Mothomogolo said customers had repeatedly asked the brand about a non-alcoholic offering, while changing consumer habits made the decision even more relevant.
“We’re seeing that a lot of people are becoming more conscious about their health. They’re drinking less and making wiser decisions,” she explained. “Having a non-alcoholic offering actually helps us stand out, and it also means that we can welcome more people.”
It is a small sentence that perhaps captures the bigger Tolokazi journey - welcoming more people while remaining proudly rooted in where the brand comes from.
From its South African ingredients to the women behind its brewing story, Tolokazi continues to build something that does more than fill a glass. It is building a brand with heritage at its foundation and an eye firmly on the future.
For more, visit: Tolokazi Beer and Cider
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