Nigeria Can Harness Herbal Tea Production For Export Growth — Stakeholders

Experts and agripreneurs have said that Nigeria’s vast biodiversity could become a goldmine for export diversification if the country strategically develops its herbal tea industry.

With global demand for natural wellness products soaring, stakeholders believe Nigeria can position itself as a leading exporter of herbal teas from its abundant indigenous plants.

Across Nigeria’s forests, savannas, and farmlands, dozens of herbs, from hibiscus and lemongrass to moringa, ginger, and scent leaf, thrive naturally. Many of these plants have long been used in traditional medicine and household remedies. But in recent years, the global herbal tea market, valued at over $3 billion, has shifted from a niche wellness trend to a mainstream consumer product, creating new opportunities for agricultural exporters.

“Nigeria is sitting on a treasure trove of herbs that the world is now demanding, “What we need is structured investment in processing, packaging, and standardisation so we can compete globally with countries like Kenya, Sri Lanka, and India,” said a phytochemist in Ibadan, Dr Godwin Ogbu.

Already, a few local producers are taking bold steps to develop Nigeria’s herbal tea export potential. Startups like Herbal Goodness Nigeria and Nature’s Field Botanicals have begun packaging locally sourced teas for export to Europe and North America, where consumers are increasingly drawn to products with organic and African origins.

But for most Nigerian farmers, the market remains untapped. ‘We grow lemongrass and hibiscus in abundance, but most of it is sold raw to local markets. If we had the right drying and packaging facilities, we could export directly and earn far more,’ said a smallholder herb farmer in Oyo State, Mrs Funke Ayoola.

Industry analysts said that Nigeria’s herbal tea value chain is still at a rudimentary stage. Most of the herbs grown are not processed or packaged to international standards, and the country lacks proper certification systems for organic and fair-trade exports. ‘It’s not enough to grow herbs. Exporting herbal tea means meeting global health and safety standards. That’s where we are falling short,’ a natural products consultant noted.

Experts call for stronger collaboration between the Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), and private agro-processors to build capacity and create export clusters dedicated to herbal products. They also urged the government to incentivise small-scale herb processors to invest in drying, blending, and packaging technology.

In 2017, before the export suspension to Mexico due to pest infestation concerns, Nigeria earned $35 million from hibiscus. Nigeria and Mexico renewed their hibiscus trade partnership in January 2023, allowing exports to resume. Then, Nigeria had aimed for up to $3 billion in annual earnings from hibiscus exports to Mexico. Still, the actual 2023 value was lower than this projection, likely closer to $19 million USD based on one source’s estimate.

The world now wants natural, caffeine-free, and functional beverages, said Mr Akin Onafawankan, founder of Green Teas, a Lagos-based startup that produces moringa and ginger blends. ‘We have all the ingredients here: climate, soil, and tradition. What’s missing is branding and investment in international packaging standards,’ he said.

Onafawankan noted that Nigerian herbal teas could compete in African and global markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), provided the right export frameworks are established. ‘AfCFTA can give us access to 1.3 billion people across Africa. If Kenya can sell its black tea to the world, Nigeria can sell hibiscus and moringa teas just as profitably,’ he said.

However, challenges persist. Poor logistics, high energy costs, and limited export financing have discouraged small producers from scaling up. Industry players also lament the absence of research-based certification centres to test and validate herbal tea blends for export compliance.

For Nigeria to succeed, stakeholders emphasised that herbal tea development must be treated as an agricultural and industrial policy priority. “We should not only grow herbs; we should own the global story of African herbal wellness. From the farms in Benue to the packaging plants in Lagos, this can become a billion-dollar industry with the right policy drive,” said Dr Ogbu.