Schibuna Aloe is a South African company involved in the Aloe industry since 1971. We supply local and international markets with products from the Aloe ferox plant. This includes our range of Aloe ferox granules and Aloe ferox powder.
Aloe ferox (also known as Cape Aloe, Bitter Aloe, Red Aloe and Tap Aloe) is a species of aloe indigenous to South Africa's Western and Eastern Cape provinces. It has been used for medicinal purposes in parts of the country for over two centuries.
The aloe bitter sap that is extracted from the plant’s leaves, is best known for its use as a laxative, however it is also used for its anti-oxidant, anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties. Aloe juice has been shown to control blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides levels.
Every 12 – 18 months, only the lower leaves of a mature aloe plant are removed, enabling the plant to continue growing. Only 8-12 leaves are harvested per plant.
The leaves are then placed in a circle around a plastic-lined hollow in the ground. The cut-end is placed towards the centre of the circle, allowing the yellow bitter sap to drain out of the leaf.
The bitter sap is then collected and boiled to remove excess water, to produce the “aloe lump” or “aloe crystal”.